Shocking footage shows aftermath of knife rampage at Zaya restaurant in downtown Los Angeles

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Shocking video shows the aftermath of a mass stabbing in a trendy downtown Los Angeles restaurant that sent four women to the hospital — and left another with a slashed face.

An all-female group was finishing bunch at the lounge and restaurant Zaya around 5 p.m. Sunday when a vicious fight broke out over who would pick up the check, according to FOX 11.

As the terrifying fight escalated, one woman whipped out a folding knife and another snatched a bottle. The crazed diners then cut each other to pieces.  

Two women were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. 29-year-old Dara Newsome and 26-year-old Kumiko Howard were taken into custody over the wild brawl.

Five were injured in a terrifying knife fight at the downtown LA eatery Zaya. BACKGRID
It was a dispute over a brunch bill gone horrifyingly wrong. BACKGRID
The restaurant said “some situations are beyond our control.”

New video exclusively obtained by The Post shows the suspects fleeing the restaurant as screams can be heard in the distance.

“Cynthia, come on!,” shouts one of the women to another in the stunning video taken from a security camera at a luxury apartment down the street from the restaurant.

“Come on baby,” calls another, as the women clad in miniskirts hustle away from the restaurant.

The video shows a woman in with a red ponytail clutching what appeared to be an injury on her arm. She then appears to wipe a liquid from her other arm.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department said the suspect who wielded a folding knife in the brawl had a red ponytail.

Police have not identified the suspects in the slashing.

Zaya founder Ryan Sauter didn’t respond to a call for comment. INSTAGRAM/zayasbaba
Four women were transported to the hospital with injuries. TNLA
A man was also detained at the scene but it’s unclear if he was involved in the fight. BACKGRID

A victim in the wild fight who suffered cuts to her face refused medical treatment and left the restaurant on her own, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A security guard at a neighboring building told the California Post, “I saw the people leaving. There were five or six people, women and men, with blood on them. The cops took a while to arrive. The stabbing took place in the restaurant. It’s incredible that this happened on a Sunday at a fancy restaurant.”

Four other victims, all between the ages of 26 and 37, were transported to hospital for treatment.

Witnesses reported seeing a suspect flee the restaurant with a folding knife along 7th Street and Grand Avenue.

A swarm of firefighters and cops worked the busy intersection that remained closed to traffic Sunday night, according to footage captured by bystanders.

Luis Santana, 36, manager or Gyu-Kaku, the restaurant opposite Zaya, told the California Post, “I heard a commotion and saw people piling outside. Zaya is normally fairly quiet. There were loud voices, people yelling. A woman was running around in bare feet trying to pull her boots back on.”

A woman in a white dress was wheeled into the back of an LAFD ambulance, other video showed.  

A man was also detained at the scene, although it’s unclear what he had to do with the stabbing

LAPD warned citizens to stay away.

“Reports of multiple people injured at 7th St and Flower,” said LAPD’s Central Division said on social media. “Officers have responded and closed off the area. Expect traffic delays in the area.”

Upscale Zaya offers nightly musical performances including jazz and soul and markets itself as an intimate dining destination suited for a romantic date.  

The restaurant on its Instagram Stories passed off responsibility for the stabbing, saying that “some situations develop unexpectedly and are beyond our control.”

The restaurant also expressed thanks for those who responded to the wild fight.

“We are especially grateful for the swift response of our team, as well as the immediate support of local law enforcement and emergency personnel,”

Zaya founding partner Ryan Sauter, who named the lounge after his daughter, did not respond to a call for comment.

An event called Sweet Serenade, with DJs and an emcee, was happening at the restaurant when the wild fight occurred.

The event’s creator Jasmine Siders said in an interview she wanted the event to be known for “unforgettable memories and experiences.”

The restaurant did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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