The defining moment, for me, was watching a line of police turn and run rather than face an oncoming force of rioters. This particular scene is something that I watched live, but have not been able to find on YouTube. My wife and I looked at each other, and had our mutual "oh shit" epiphany. She bought me my first gun as a birthday present later in the year.
The police in LA had no incentive to act to protect people, and lots of incentives to run. The only way to have stopped the riot would have been to open fire on the rioters. The rioters would only have stopped if there were dead rioters on the streets, and not just one or two. There would have needed to be hundreds. Any cops participating in such a mass killing could expect to be crucified.
The rioting stopped before it reached the suburbs. The rioters were smart enough to realize that, while police were inhibited from firing upon them, armed homeowners would have shot without hesitation if they felt their homes and families were in danger.
I believe the rioters left the SK shop owners after they proved they would defend their stores.