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Teary-eyed influencer ‘Meatball’ who livestreamed Philadelphia looting is charged with 6 felonies


The Philadelphia social media influencer arrested while she livestreamed Tuesday night’s looting mayhem fought back tears as she was charged with six felonies.


Dayjia Blackwell, better known as “Meatball,” shared her firsthand view of the chaos, in which looters targeted several businesses including Apple, Foot Locker and Lululemon, before being caught.


In the videos posted to her Instagram Stories, Blackwell can be heard laughing and cheering on the other looters as she stood by and watched the chaos unfold.


At one point during her stream, Blackwell turned to face her camera and challenged the cops to arrest her.


“Tell the police they’re either gonna lock me up tonight, or it’s gonna get lit, it’s gonna be a movie,” she said at one point.


“This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city,” she screamed as she joined a crowd of youngsters in the street.


Blackwell’s video showed hordes of looters rushing into the Apple store and running away with iPhones and tablets.


“Free iPhones! Free iPhones,” Blackwell yelled.




Police used the social media posts of Blackwell and other alleged looters to determine their precise location amid the chaos, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.


On Wednesday, “Meatball” was handed eight separate charges including six felonies stemming from her involvement with the looting, according to court documents viewed by The Post.


Blackwell was charged with burglary, criminal trespassing, conspiracy, criminal mischief, riot with the intent to commit a felony and criminal use of a communication facility.


Police also issued the influencer two misdemeanors — receiving stolen property and hazardous conditions/physically offensive.





Blackwell’s bail was set for $25,000, which she posted early Thursday, according to the documents.


Following the mass looting in the City Center neighborhood and its surrounding areas, Philadelphia police heightened security around the city Wednesday night.


But that didn’t stop some from causing more havoc.


Several stores were struck including a liquor store, according to footage captured by NBC Philadelphia, and a Wells Fargo drive-up ATM that was stolen.



In total, at least 52 people have been arrested over the past two days for their involvement in the looting.


Interim Chief of Police John Stanford told the outlet the lootings were executed by “opportunists” who took advantage of the anger over the decision in the Eddie Irizarry case.


Thousands of people took to the streets Tuesday afternoon to protest Municipal Judge Wendy Pew’s decision to dismiss all charges, including murder and manslaughter, against police officer Mark Dial, who fatally shot Irizarry through a car window during an August traffic stop.


The protest ended around 7:30 Tuesday night, just before the city turned hectic as the unruly mob overpowered security and police officers to ransack the stores.

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