'Intentional act': LAPD says suspect was kicked out of club before driving car into crowd
- A manhunt was underway for the person who shot the suspect after the crash.
Authorities on July 21 asked for the public's help in finding the man they suspect of shooting a driver accused of ramming a car into a crowd on a Los Angeles street, injuring more than 30 people.
Los Angeles Police Department Officer Norma Eisenman told Paste BN the suspected driver, Fernando Ramirez, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury. Ramirez, 29, was hospitalized in critical condition, police said.
A search was underway for the shooter, described by police as a Hispanic male, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing between 150 and 170 pounds, bald, wearing a blue jersey and possibly armed with a silver revolver, police said.
The chaotic scene unfolded July 19 at around 2 a.m. in East Hollywood as people spilled out from the Vermont Hollywood nightclub. Police said the suspect had been kicked out of the club and minutes later returned, driving his vehicle onto the sidewalk and ramming into the packed crowd.
After the crash, authorities said bystanders took the driver out of the vehicle and attacked him.
"When you review the video, it's clear that he drove that vehicle down a sidewalk and around a bus. It was an intentional act," LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes told KABC-TV. Fernandes said club security was attempting to detain the suspect when someone "came from across the street, armed with a firearm, and then shot our suspect in the buttocks."
Several people critically injured
The police statement said officers arrived at the scene to find the driver being assaulted by bystanders and determined he had sustained a gunshot wound.
At least 36 people were injured in the crash, police said in another statement on July 21. The injured victims sustained injuries ranging from minor pain to serious fractures and lacerations.
"Several individuals were struck by the vehicle and some were briefly trapped beneath it," police said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said seven people, including the suspect, were in critical condition; six are listed in serious condition, while 10 are in fair condition. Another seven patients refused transport after being treated or assessed for injuries at the scene, the department said in a statement.
Los Angeles police ask for the public's help in the investigation
On July 21, police asked for the public's assistance in identifying the man suspected of shooting Ramirez.
Police released surveillance photos from cameras near the scene showing the unidentified man wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, a light blue jersey with the number "5," and blue jeans. He was also seen with a goatee and gauges in both ears.
During the altercation, police said the man had walked from across the street and displayed a firearm before shooting Ramirez once in the lower back. The man then fled from the scene.
Vermont Hollywood club says it is aiding probe
The club issued a statement saying its staff was "deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue." The statement said that at about 2 a.m., as patrons were leaving, "a driver veered onto the sidewalk and struck multiple individuals."
The statement said the staff was working closely with law enforcement to ensure "the person responsible for this horrific act" was held accountable.
"We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders for their swift and compassionate action in assisting those affected," the statement concluded.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci