Bystanders attack driver after he ploughs his car into a crowd in East Hollywood, wounding at least 30.
A driver in the city of Los Angeles in the United States has ploughed his car into a crowd outside a nightclub in East Hollywood, wounding at least 30 people, seven of whom are in critical condition, according to officials.
Bystanders at the scene attacked and shot the suspect before he was detained by authorities early on Saturday, according to the police.
Rosario Cervantes, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), identified the suspect as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez and said he has been charged on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Cervantes told the AFP news agency that Ramirez had been “undergoing surgery” at a local hospital for his gunshot wound.
She added that authorities were still searching for the man who shot and wounded the driver before fleeing on foot.
According to US media, the driver had been kicked out of the Vermont Hollywood nightclub in East Hollywood before he deliberately rammed his vehicle into the crowd at about 2am (09:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Bystanders subsequently attacked the driver, LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the Los Angeles Times.
“He was pulled from the car, handcuffed by security and then beaten by bystanders before being shot in the back by an individual from across the street,” Fernandes said.
Based on reviewing a video of the incident, “when he hit bystanders, it was an intentional act”, he added.
Footage posted on social media showed panicked people running outside the club and victims sprawled on a blood-stained pavement, while others sobbed nearby.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident “a heartbreaking tragedy”.
“The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning – a full investigation into what happened is underway,” she said in a statement.
The Vermont Hollywood club said on social media that it was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident”.
The area of the car ramming is near Hollywood landmarks, including Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, a pavement emblazoned with stars commemorating movie industry figures.
Between 2019 and 2022, there were 1,333 pedestrian-involved traffic collisions in Los Angeles, leading to 153 deaths and 301 severe injuries, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.
LAFD Alert- #EastHollywood Traffic with Multiple Patients 4661 W Santa Monica Bl MAP: https://t.co/714PH0XwN5 FS35; DETAILS: https://t.co/jwSEQFLOnw
— LAFD 🔥 (@LAFD) July 19, 2025
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