Fact check: How many people were killed during the 1992 LA riots?

1. Summary of the results

The exact death toll from the 1992 LA riots remains somewhat contested, with different sources providing varying numbers:

• Initial reports counted 60 deaths, later revised down to 51 by the county coroner's office ^[1]
• Two separate sources consistently report 63 deaths ^{[2] [3]}
• Some estimates place the figure "over 50" and as high as 64 ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The raw numbers alone don't tell the full story. Important additional context includes:

*Demographic breakdown:

• One detailed count shows 48 men and 5 women among the deceased ^[5]
• Multiple sources confirm the racial diversity of victims, though with slightly different numbers:
• First count: 25 African Americans, 16 Latinos, 8 whites, 2 Asians, 1 French Algerian, and 1 person from India/Middle East ^[5]
• Second count: 28 black, 19 Latino, 14 white, and 2 Asian victims ^{[2] [3]}

Cause of death*:

• 35 died from gunshot wounds, 8 from auto accidents, 5 from burning, 2 from being beaten/stabbed, and 1 from strangulation ^[5]
• 9 were shot by police and 1 by the National Guard ^[2]
• 22 deaths remain officially unresolved ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself oversimplifies a complex situation. Several important factors affect the count:

• The definition of "riot-related deaths" required significant interpretation ^[1]
• Some initially counted deaths were later determined to be unrelated, including:
• Gang-related shootings
• Drug deals
• Natural causes ^[1]

This complexity in categorization explains why different sources report different numbers, and why the initial count was revised. The varying numbers don't necessarily represent misinformation, but rather different methodologies in counting and categorizing deaths related to the riots.