The violence occurred in the University Hill neighborhood of Boulder, Colorado on Saturday night, as hundreds of partygoers shot off fireworks and flouted social-distancing rules and mask-wearing advice.
Police began receiving a slew of complaints about 7pm local time and by 8:30pm the SWAT team had arrived to begin clearing the crowds.
Officers declared the party an unlawful gathering and threatened to use tear gas if revellers refused to disperse.
Multiple vehicles, including the SWAT team’s armored personnel carrier, were damaged as things turned ugly. Irate revellers also flipped a civilian car.
“The public health stakes of this type of a gathering are high and potentially dire,” the police said in a press release.
Authorities at the University of Colorado Boulder condemned the party and the violence and threatened to expel any student found to have attacked first responders.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty vowed to bring violent troublemakers to justice for their “outrageous actions.”
“There is no excuse for this conduct, especially while the people of this community endure the pandemic,” he added.
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