SAN DIEGO – What started as a late-night quest for tacos after the bars closed turned into utter pandemonium on the streets of downtown San Diego, where a massive brawl involving multiple women forced bicycle-mounted police officers to unleash pepper spray and a Taser to regain control.
Viral video circulating Monday shows the wild scene unfolding outside the popular Tacos El Gordo near the intersection of F Street and Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter. As crowds gathered for post-bar bites, at least three women dressed in black locked into an intense fistfight on the sidewalk, throwing punches, yanking hair, and kicking at one another amid parked cars and onlookers.
About six San Diego police officers on bikes rushed in but initially struggled to separate the combatants. Footage captures officers detaining a man face-down on a car hood while breaking up a separate scuffle between two men on the pavement. As the women’s fight continued unabated—one repeatedly shouting “I don’t give a f***” while swinging—officers deployed cans of pepper spray, sending a visible mist into the air. One participant was reportedly tasered.
A crowd of bystanders watched and, in some cases, appeared to cheer as the chaos unfolded. The video also shows officers working to restrain participants who ended up on the ground.
According to social media reports and circulating clips, the melee may have begun with a verbal confrontation between women waiting in line at the taco shop. A man reportedly stepped in, escalating into physical fights involving both men and women.
Police are investigating the exact cause of the brawl and whether anyone involved sustained injuries. No immediate arrest details or official injury reports have been released.
Tacos El Gordo, a well-known late-night destination in the Gaslamp area, has seen its share of rowdy crowds when nearby bars let out, but this weekend’s free-for-all stood out for its intensity and the officers’ determined response with less-lethal force.
The incident serves as another reminder of the challenges facing law enforcement in managing large, alcohol-fueled gatherings in popular nightlife districts. San Diego Police Department officials have not yet issued a full statement beyond confirming the ongoing probe.
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