When Magic Johnson’s Dodgers clinched the World Series back in 2020, fans were still a sea of cardboard cutouts, glued to their screens at home as the real action happened within the Texas bubble. It was a bittersweet victory, sealed without the roars of LA fans echoing through the streets. But now, within five years and another shot at glory, LA’s streets finally pulsed with the kind of energy fans had only dreamed of, but not without a few hiccups.

After shutting down their critics on the East Coast, the Dodgers returned to a hero’s welcome. This was their first championship parade in nearly 36 years, and LA was ready to revel in it. Magic Johnson, alongside his wife Cookie, was right in the heart of the celebration, sharing moments on social media. He captioned his post, “Wow!! We couldn’t have asked for a better World Series Parade. Thank you to the millions of Dodgers fans that showed up and supported our men in blue.”

Johnson also made sure to thank LA officials, acknowledging the mayor, LAPD, and fire departments for their work in making the event safe and memorable. Rightly so, after a few disturbances brought in an unexpected chaos and the officials did not seem to have let it get out of hand.

Despite all efforts to maintain peace, a few fans took things a step too far. In one frightening instance, a man in Clayton Kershaw’s No. 22 jersey, with “King” scrawled on the back, lost control of a firecracker in the midst of celebration. The incident took a shocking turn when, just as he was lowering the explosive to the ground, it detonated prematurely, leaving his hands horribly injured.

By the early hours of Thursday morning, first responders were at the scene. According to a spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department, “They got to the scene at 2:30 am… and found the 25-year-old conscious and alert, but suffering from bilateral hand wounds.”

The horrifying images made waves online, showing the fan doubled over in pain. In a daze, he tried to walk away, but the severity of his injuries quickly caught up with him. It was only after bystanders understood the situation that they called for help.

Other incidents that Magic Johnson won’t be proud of

It wasn’t just cheers and confetti that filled the air after the Dodgers’ big win. Amid the post-game chaos, at least a dozen fans found themselves on the wrong side of the law. From public disturbances to burglary, the night took a turn that likely left Magic Johnson shaking his head.

One particularly shocking scene unfolded outside a local Nike store, where fans raided the merchandise and left products scattered on the streets. According to The Mirror US, six were arrested for commercial burglary, four were detained for receiving stolen items, and two more for refusing to leave. The LAPD is still tallying the final number of arrests, showing just how wild things got that night.

Yet, Mayor Karen Bass was quick to reassure the city that most fans celebrated responsibly. “The overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful,” she shared, promising that officials would “work to keep Angelenos safe as always.” She reminded everyone that “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.” For Johnson, it seems this celebration came with more chaos than he’d hoped. But as the Mayor notes, the majority savor the victory well.