L.A. RIOTS PICTURE SPECIAL: Two decades on, the most graphic images of gunfights, looting and a city going up in flames

This Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the night when chaos broke out in Los Angeles.

Angered by the acquittal of three white and one Hispanic police officers who had been filmed beating black motorist Rodney King rioting erupted across the city.

When the flames had died down six days later 55 people had died, 2,300 had been injured and more than 1,500 buildings were left damaged or destroyed.

Ahead of the commemorations Reuters have put out a series of dramatic images which tell the story of the days LA was torn apart.



A business set ablaze at the start of the Los Angeles Riots in South Central Los Angeles on April 29, 1992

Cornelius Pettus, owner of Payless market, throws a bucket of water on the flames at neighboring business Ace Glass during the first night of the riots

Market owner Richard Rhee returns fire at approaching looters as he defends his grocery market during the second day of the riots

Police officers guard an intersection where a shopping centre was set ablaze during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots in Koreatown, May 1, 1992

A security guard defends California Market from approaching looters during the second day of the riots, in Koreatown on April 30, 1992

Businesses continue to burn out of control during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots, in Koreatown

Looters remove items from burning shops at a shopping centre on Venice Boulevard during the third day of the riots

Armed Korean American volunteers guard California market from approaching looters during the second day of the Los Angeles Riots, in Koreatown

A corner shopping center is fully engulfed in flames as it is left burning during the third day of the riots

Armed Korean American volunteers arrive at California market to provide protection during the second night of the Los Angeles Riots, in Koreatown

A protester carries a Malcolm X sign during a rally on April 29 following the acquittal of four LAPD officers for the beating of motorist Rodney King in South Central Los Angeles

First responders tend to a building fire during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots on Olympic Boulevard in Koreatown

A police officer responds to a shooting incident as a Korean American business is set ablaze during the second day of the riots

Los Angeles police officers and paramedics attend to shooting victims as a Korean American business is set ablaze during the second day of the Los Angeles Riots near the intersection of 8th Street and Kingsley Drive in Koreatown

An armed volunteer takes a cigarette break while guarding a Korean American owned business during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots, in Koreatown

Police officers investigate a body found in a vehicle outside Ralph's supermarket during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots on Third Street and Vermont

Armed volunteers guard California Market from the roof on the third day of the Los Angeles Riots, in Koreatown

Residents fight fire with a water hose from an apartment building during the third night of rioting

LAPD officers investigate the scene of a shooting where college student Eddie Lee was killed and three others were injured during the second night of the riots at the intersection of 3rd Street and Hobart Boulevard. The youths had been responding to a call made on Radio Korea warning of approaching looters at the Kang-Suh Myon-Oak noodle restaurant and were pulled out of their vehicle after it came under fire

Looters walk away with goods removed from shops at a shopping center on Vermont Avenue during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots in Koreatown

Onlookers watch as an electronics shop on Olympic Boulevard burns during the third day of the Los Angeles Riots in Koreatown

Armed volunteers take position behind cabbage boxes as they guard California market from approaching looters during the second day of the Los Angeles Riots in Koreatown