Woman accused of encouraging Philadelphia looters live on social media among dozens charged
Dayjia Blackwell, 21, allegedly used her social media platform to encourage people to engage in looting at several locations.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police have arrested a woman accused of encouraging looters while live on social media Tuesday night.
Twenty-one-year-old Dayjia Blackwell, who is known as "Meatball," allegedly used her social media platform to encourage people to engage in looting at several locations and is alleged to have engaged in criminal activities herself, according to the district attorney's office.
She is charged with Burglary, Conspiracy, Criminal Trespass, Riot, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Use of Communication Facility, Receipt of Stolen Property, and Disorderly Conduct.
Blackwell has since posted bail and is due back in court next month.
She was arrested on the 5600 block of Rising Sun Avenue after being observed by officers at a gas station, making her one of the dozens of people arrested of far in connection with the looting.
Blackwell was later released on bail, taking to Instagram to share her experience behind bars.
"I never been through nothing like that in my life. What happened? I need some sleep. I'm scared. I'm traumatized. Never again in my life," she said in the video.
As of Thursday afternoon, the district attorney's office said at least 64 people had been charged.
The chaos initially started around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after numerous 911 calls stated a large group, possibly as many as 100, moving through Center City Philadelphia.
At least 18 state-run liquor stores were broken into, leading the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to close all 48 of its Philadelphia retail locations and one in suburban Cheltenham on Wednesday.
SEE ALSO: Dozens arrested after looters target stores across Philadelphia
Other stores in and around the city were ransacked, including Lululemon, Foot Locker, and an Apple store.
Video on social media showed masked people in hoodies running out of Lululemon with merchandise and police officers grabbing several and tackling them to the sidewalk. Photos of a sporting goods store at a mall showed mannequins and sneakers scattered on the sidewalk.
The thefts and unrest stretched from downtown to northeast and west Philadelphia, leaving smashed display windows and broken storefront coverings. Police said seven cars were stolen from a lot in the northeast. Three of the cars had been recovered as of Wednesday afternoon.
Six businesses in a single retail corridor of North Philadelphia were looted, including three pharmacies, a hair salon, a tax preparation company and a cellphone store, according to the North 22nd Street Business Corridor, a business group.
No injuries were reported Tuesday night.
Police say they are extending shifts for officers to make sure they are prepared for any issues through the weekend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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