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Viewers have expressed shock over a video showing a taco truck owner destroying a competitor's ingredients using a fire extinguisher. The incident occurred in Whittier County, California.
The video, which was posted by TikTok user @rosariotijeras and has over 5 million views, shows a masked employee of a street-side taco stand, Tacos La Guera, walking away as clouds of white smoke engulf a large cut of meat impaled on a spit.
The clouds apparently came from a man on the street using a fire extinguisher on the food. The man then walks to the other side of the taco stand and proceeds to use the extinguisher on two large bowls of taco meat, ruining them. The vandal then waves goodbye to the person recording the video and then walks toward a taco truck parked near the sidewalk.
The caption on the video says, in Spanish, "Once again we are victims of the envy from the two owners of that food truck."
The incident occurred on around 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, January 27, 2021, according to the Los Angeles Times. Police arrested 37-year-old Carlos Plascencia on Friday and charged him with felony vandalism for the recorded actions. Plascencia was reportedly upset that the taco stand occupied his food truck's usual location. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Tacos La Guera, which has multiple locations around Los Angeles, had set up for its first-ever night of business in Whittier County, the Times reported. The business had prepared al pastor tacos of marinated pork, a meal that requires hours of preparation, food influencer Jimmy Borunda told the publication.
TikTok commenters were shocked by the video.
"Wow that was so wrong," one commenter named Rosa Escobedo wrote, "but god will help them get up again ... my prayers for them."
One commenter named Vargas wrote, "I like to know why no one do nothing."
Another commenter named Ruben Ramos wrote, "The law should make them pay for all damages and remove them selling any type food on that truck."
The Friday after the incident, many people came out to give their business to Tacos La Guera, the Times added. Additionally, the TikTok user who posted the video coordinated with others to help raise $14,722.06 for the business using the Venmo and Cash App, two money transferring apps.
In a follow-up video, @rosariotijeras showed a person handing envelopes filled with $5,000 to each of the three employees present during the incident. The recipients seem shocked and touched by the community's fundraising.
