LOS ANGELES (AP) — Law enforcement officials are appealing to the public for help in locating a man they believe shot the driver involved in a crash at a Los Angeles nightclub that injured over 36 people.
The dramatic event unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning as a vehicle plowed into a crowd at the Vermont Hollywood venue, situated on a busy street in East Hollywood. Witnesses reported that the chaos prompted bystanders to confront the driver.
According to police reports, the driver later discovered that he had sustained a gunshot wound in the lower back.
On Monday, the Los Angeles police released surveillance images from the vicinity of the incident. The photos depict a man sporting a goatee, dressed in a blue Dodgers jacket along with a light blue jersey featuring the number “5.” Authorities are seeking information to identify this individual.
The driver involved has been named as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez. He is anticipated to face felony charges related to assault with a deadly weapon. Yet so far, efforts to ascertain if he has legal representation have not been fruitful, as searches did not recover a contact number for him.
It’s important to note that the Vermont Hollywood was hosting a reggae hip-hop event on Friday night when attendees began exiting, leading to the unfortunate crash, as mentioned in an online statement from the venue.
The Vermont Hollywood club expressed its sorrow over the “tragic incident,” emphasizing their commitment to collaborating with law enforcement to bring the responsible party to justice.
Post-collision, Ramirez’s car did not stop until it collided with several food carts, which became trapped beneath the vehicle, according to police accounts.
As for the injuries, they varied, with some sustaining minor aches while others suffered more severe setbacks like fractures and lacerations. Reports indicated that several individuals were briefly trapped under the car.
Looking into Ramirez’s background, he has a history of criminal activity that includes a battery conviction related to a 2019 incident involving a racial conflict, as he expressed disdain towards Black individuals during questioning by police. This was deemed a hate crime.
However, a California appeals court in 2021 noted that his objectionable statements were made after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, leaving only the battery charge intact. After spending more than two years in custody, he was released.
Recent filings by Orange County prosecutors highlight that Ramirez has shown violence towards both strangers and family members and has exhibited a blatant disregard for the safety of others.
His prior record also includes pleas of guilty to battery and gang affiliations in 2014, alongside a domestic violence charge in 2021. At the time of the nightclub crash, he was facing both pending cases for drunk driving in 2024 and another domestic violence charge from 2022.
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Contributed by Ed White from the Associated Press, Detroit.
