'Aggressive Yet Sublime': A Looter, Nirvana And The Los Angeles Riots
Gilbert Monterrosa was 15 years old during the 1992 riots. He and some friends decided to loot a Fedco department store where he found something unexpected — Nirvana's album, Nevermind.
When you talk about the unrest that broke out in Los Angeles 25 years ago after the Rodney King verdict, one thing people usually remember is the looting.
People went into stores and just walked out with stuff. Some people stole vital things such as food and baby formula because they didn't know how long the riots would last. Others stole booze and cigarettes. Still others dared to carry mattresses and giant TVs home on their backs — and they weren't stopped by anyone.
Gilbert Monterrosa was one of those looters. But, he says he was a reluctant participant.
Monterrosa was 15 at the time — a sophomore at James A. Foshay Junior High, now known as James A. Foshay Learning Center. He lived with his mom and two younger sisters in what
