'Opportunist' Influencer Who Livestreamed Philadelphia Looting Got Arrested

It began one night, during a chaos, Dayjia Blackwell, better known as “Meatball,” shared her firsthand view of the lootings that targeted several businesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city in the U.S..

In the videos posted to her Instagram Stories, Blackwell can be heard cheering for the looters, and laughed as the moment happened.

At one point during her stream, Blackwell who turned to face her camera, even challenged the police 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. Everybody's gotta eat!" she said.

"This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city."

As she joined the looters, which consisted of youngsters, she recorded how the crowed rushed into an Apple store, and ran away with stolen iPhones, among others.

"Free iPhones! Free iPhones!" Blackwell yelled, as she stood by and watched the chaos unfold.

Besides Apple, Dayjia also went to other locations that were looted, which include Foot Locker and Lululemon, before moving on to a liquor store where she bragged about grabbing a bottle of Hennessy..

This happened because the police managed to use the social media posts of Dayjia and other alleged looters to determine their identities and precise location.

The authorities found Meatball in her friend's car and arrested her a little after midnight.

It didn't take long before the police identified Dayjia.

In custody, Meatball was handed eight separate charges including six felonies stemming from her involvement with the looting, according to court documents. She 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.

What made it bad for her is that in her livestream, she encouraged others to join in.

Blackwell’s bail was set for $25,000.

When her mug shot was released, she appeared with teary eyes and distraught.

She said that her family feels "ashamed" of her because what she did.

Regardkess, when Dayjia was released on bail, she used her influence to make even more money.

The Philadelphia-based 21-year-old woman posted her bail, and then she told her followers that she wanted to "go treat myself."

As she begs fans for cash as a "welcome home" gift, Dayjia also posted on her Instagram asking users to "go bless her" and said that she wanted to get her "toes done."

"If you don't got 150$ for promo bye, I need a lawyer at the end of the day," she said in another Instagram post.

She also urged her followers to buy clothing and hats from her brand, and even hinted she that may print merchandise with her mugshot on it.

"Thanks I love everybody. I will never get locked up again, what was that I was in omg. That scared me," she said.

"I've never been through nothing like that ever in my life, I don't even know what happened. I need some sleep, I'm scared, I'm traumatized, never again in my live, like seriously."

According to interim Chief of Police John Stanford, the lootings were executed by "opportunists" who took advantage of the anger over the decision in the Eddie Irizarry case.

Eddie was killed on August 14, 2023, when he was shot by Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial while in his vehicle.

At that time, thePhiladelphia police told the media that the incident began when the police pulled over a car that was "driving erratically." When the "officers approached" the car, Eddie "stepped out" of the car "with a knife", which the "officers gave multiple commands for him to drop", but Irizarry "lunged at the officers", prompting the shooting.

But later, the Philadelphia police changed their story, and that according to officers' body-worn camera footage the police "made it very clear that what we initially reported was not actually what happened."

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

The protest ended around 7:30 p.m., just before the city turned hectic as the unruly mob overpowered security and police officers.

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

But that didn’t stop some of the remaining youngsters from causing some more havoc.

The police has made several arrests for the days for their involvement in the looting.