Driver Faces 37 Attempted Murder Charges After LA Nightclub Crash

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A California man is facing dozens of felony charges after allegedly driving his car into a large crowd of pedestrians outside a Los Angeles nightclub over the weekend, leaving nearly 40 people injured. Prosecutors have charged 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez with 37 counts of attempted murder and an equal number of assault with a deadly weapon charges, describing the incident as a near mass casualty event.

The crash occurred early Saturday morning outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub, just as partygoers were exiting a reggae and hip-hop event. Authorities say Ramirez deliberately drove onto the sidewalk, plowing into bystanders and food vendors. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a press conference, “When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians.”

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the vehicle barreled through a crowd before coming to a stop after hitting multiple food carts. The carts became lodged under the car, briefly trapping several victims. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, 23 people were transported to nearby hospitals, and eight sustained what officials described as “great bodily injury.”

Community Shaken

“This brazen act has shaken the community, and but for the good grace of God, this could have been a mass casualty incident,” Hochman added. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is still trying to determine a motive, as Ramirez has not spoken publicly and no attorney has yet been assigned to represent him.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell praised the emergency response and community reaction, stating, “It’s truly a miracle that no one was killed that day.”

Following the crash, bystanders reportedly pulled Ramirez from the vehicle and assaulted him. He then fled the scene but was later found with a gunshot wound to his lower back. Authorities have not identified who fired the weapon, and the search for the shooter is ongoing.

Ramirez’s record is extensive and troubling. He has prior convictions for battery and gang-related activity dating back to 2014. In 2019, he was convicted of aggravated battery after attacking a man at a Whole Foods store in Laguna Beach.

He was also charged with domestic violence in 2021 and had a pending case for driving under the influence this year, as well as another domestic violence case from 2022. Despite this history, he had been released from custody after serving just over two years in jail and prison.

In court filings related to the 2019 assault, prosecutors wrote, “He has proved to be violent to strangers and family alike and clearly has a lack of concern for the safety of others.”

As of Tuesday, Ramirez remains in custody while prosecutors push forward with what they’ve described as one of the most serious vehicular assaults in recent Los Angeles memory.