Suspected Driver Injures 36 in Los Angeles Crowd Ramming

A man suspected of deliberately driving his vehicle into a crowd outside an event venue in Los Angeles injured 36 people, authorities reported. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, has a criminal record that includes a prior felony battery conviction.

Ramirez was attacked by bystanders after the incident early Saturday in east Hollywood. Paramedics later found that he had been shot, though police are still searching for the alleged shooter, described as a man with a goatee wearing a blue Dodgers jacket.

The crash occurred around 2 a.m. as a line of mostly women waited to enter Vermont Hollywood. The vehicle struck pedestrians, a food vending cart, and a valet stand. Photos show a Nissan Versa damaged after the collision.

At least 36 individuals received treatment for injuries such as fractures and cuts; police did not issue updates on their health status.

Ramirez, from San Clemente, California, was hospitalized and faces potential felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators are uncertain whether he was shot before or after the crash or why he targeted the crowd.

He has been involved in at least 11 criminal cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. In January 2022, Ramirez pleaded not guilty to a felony domestic battery charge, which remains unresolved.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the incident, focusing on whether Ramirez was shot prior to or following the ramming, and what motivated his actions.

Photos of the scene depict emergency responders assisting victims and analyzing the wreckage, with police actively searching for the suspect involved.