Driver accused of ramming into LA crowd charged with 37 counts of attempted murder
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman accused Fernando Ramirez, 29, of San Clemente, California, of intentionally driving his vehicle into a crowd of people gathering outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub in East Hollywood on July 19. The district attorney said Ramirez faces 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
"When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians that were in front of him on the sidewalk at 2 a.m.," Hochman said at a news conference. "Many of them were at the taco truck, or they were waiting at valet, or they were waiting to get into the club."
The chaotic scene unfolded at about 2 a.m. local time as the venue began to close for the night. Ramirez had been kicked out of the venue before returning minutes later and ramming his vehicle into the crowd along the busy street, injuring 37 people, according to police and prosecutors.
Injuries ranged from "minor abrasions to serious fractures and lacerations to broken bones" and several victims were briefly trapped beneath the car, authorities said. Hochman alleged that Ramirez inflicted "great bodily injury" on eight victims.
The car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle, according to police. After the crash, police said bystanders pulled Ramirez out of the vehicle and attacked him.
He was later taken into custody and is currently being held without bail, according to Hochman. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 23.
Ramirez faces multiple sentences of life in state prison if he is convicted on all counts, Hochman said.
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Driver shot by an unidentified man following car crash
During the altercation, police said an unidentified man approached the scene from across the street and shot Ramirez once in the lower back. The man then fled from the scene and remains at large as of July 22, according to police.
On July 21, investigators asked the public's help in identifying the man suspected of shooting Ramirez. The shooting suspect was described by police as a Hispanic male, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing between 150 and 170 pounds, and bald.
Newly released surveillance photos from cameras near the venue showed the suspect wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, a light blue jersey with the number '5,' and blue jeans. He also had gauges in both ears, a goatee, and is possibly armed with a silver revolver, police said.
"We understand the emotions involved but when the threat had ended and the suspect was no longer actively harming others, the use of deadly force was both unlawful and dangerous to everybody present," Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at the July 22 news conference.
McDonnell noted that the suspected shooter is considered armed and dangerous, and has urged the public to contact authorities with any potential information on the suspect.
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Driver has 'extensive history of violence'
McDonnell said Ramirez has "an extensive history of violence." According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Ramirez has an additional pending case in Orange County for domestic violence.
"He's been charged as well being out on bail for the 2022 domestic violence case that he had in Orange County," Hochman said. "With respect to the details on how he's actually out on bail and ended up in Los Angeles, that evidence will actually be adduced at trial."
ABC7 News reported that Ramirez had been involved in several violent crimes in Orange County. He was previously convicted of battery and a hate crime after assaulting a Black employee at a Whole Foods store in Laguna Beach, the television station reported.
He was also convicted of resisting arrest, corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and assault likely to cause great bodily injury, according to the television station.
Contributing: John Bacon and Jeanine Santucci
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Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Driver accused of ramming into crowd outside LA nightclub charged with 37 counts of attempted murder
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The driver accused of ramming his car into a crowd outside a Los Angeles nightclub over the weekend was charged with 37 counts of attempted murder, prosecutors said Tuesday. Fernando Ramirez, 29, was also charged with 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face multiple sentences of life imprisonment. Ramirez is accused of intentionally driving his car onto the sidewalk as partygoers were leaving the Vermont Hollywood venue at the end of a reggae hip-hop event early Saturday. The motive for the attack, which injured 37 people, was still unknown. A phone number for Ramirez could not be found in an online database search, and the public defender's office said they have not been appointed to represent him. 'When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians,' LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in announcing the charges. The car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle, and bystanders attacked the driver, police said. Injuries ranged from minor to serious fractures and lacerations, and some people were briefly trapped beneath the vehicle. After fleeing the scene, Ramirez was later found to have been shot in the lower back, but authorities have not identified the suspected gunman. Officials said Tuesday they were still looking for the shooter. 'We understand that this brazen act has shaken the community and but for the good grace of God, this could have been a mass casualty incident' Hochman said. He added that eight people suffered 'great bodily injury.' Among those injured, 23 people were taken to hospitals, said Ronnie Villanueva, Interim Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said 'it's truly a miracle that no one was killed that day.' Ramirez has a criminal history that includes a battery and gang-related charge in 2014, an aggravated battery conviction for a 2019 attack on a Black man at a Whole Foods grocery store in Laguna Beach, California, and a domestic violence charge in 2021, records show. In the 2019 attack, he was also convicted of a civil rights misdemeanor, and the assault was considered a hate crime because he told police he hated Black people. But a California appeals court in 2021 said he made that statement after invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, and only the battery conviction was allowed to stand. Ramirez was released from custody after more than two years in jail and prison. Ramirez 'has proved to be violent to strangers and family alike and clearly has a lack of concern for the safety of others,' Orange County prosecutors said in a court filing for the 2019 attack. A 2024 drunken driving case and 2022 domestic violence charge were pending at the time of the nightclub crash, according to records. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Driver accused of ramming into LA crowd charged with 37 counts of attempted murder
The man accused of plowing a car into a crowd outside a popular Los Angeles nightclub and injuring dozens of people was charged with 74 felony counts in connection with the crash, prosecutors announced on July 22. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman accused Fernando Ramirez, 29, of San Clemente, California, of intentionally driving his vehicle into a crowd of people gathering outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub in East Hollywood on July 19. The district attorney said Ramirez faces 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. "When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians that were in front of him on the sidewalk at 2 a.m.," Hochman said at a news conference. "Many of them were at the taco truck, or they were waiting at valet, or they were waiting to get into the club." The chaotic scene unfolded at about 2 a.m. local time as the venue began to close for the night. Ramirez had been kicked out of the venue before returning minutes later and ramming his vehicle into the crowd along the busy street, injuring 37 people, according to police and prosecutors. Injuries ranged from "minor abrasions to serious fractures and lacerations to broken bones" and several victims were briefly trapped beneath the car, authorities said. Hochman alleged that Ramirez inflicted "great bodily injury" on eight victims. The car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle, according to police. After the crash, police said bystanders pulled Ramirez out of the vehicle and attacked him. He was later taken into custody and is currently being held without bail, according to Hochman. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 23. Ramirez faces multiple sentences of life in state prison if he is convicted on all counts, Hochman said. Los Angeles explosion: 'Horrific' explosion at LA County sheriff's training facility kills 3 deputies Driver shot by an unidentified man following car crash During the altercation, police said an unidentified man approached the scene from across the street and shot Ramirez once in the lower back. The man then fled from the scene and remains at large as of July 22, according to police. On July 21, investigators asked the public's help in identifying the man suspected of shooting Ramirez. The shooting suspect was described by police as a Hispanic male, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing between 150 and 170 pounds, and bald. Newly released surveillance photos from cameras near the venue showed the suspect wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, a light blue jersey with the number '5,' and blue jeans. He also had gauges in both ears, a goatee, and is possibly armed with a silver revolver, police said. "We understand the emotions involved but when the threat had ended and the suspect was no longer actively harming others, the use of deadly force was both unlawful and dangerous to everybody present," Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at the July 22 news conference. McDonnell noted that the suspected shooter is considered armed and dangerous, and has urged the public to contact authorities with any potential information on the suspect. Militarized response to LA protests: Pentagon pulls 2,000 National Guard members from Los Angeles in immigration rollback Driver has 'extensive history of violence' McDonnell said Ramirez has "an extensive history of violence." According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Ramirez has an additional pending case in Orange County for domestic violence. "He's been charged as well being out on bail for the 2022 domestic violence case that he had in Orange County," Hochman said. "With respect to the details on how he's actually out on bail and ended up in Los Angeles, that evidence will actually be adduced at trial." ABC7 News reported that Ramirez had been involved in several violent crimes in Orange County. He was previously convicted of battery and a hate crime after assaulting a Black employee at a Whole Foods store in Laguna Beach, the television station reported. He was also convicted of resisting arrest, corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and assault likely to cause great bodily injury, according to the television station. Contributing: John Bacon and Jeanine Santucci
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Driver in East Hollywood nightclub crash charged with 37 counts of attempted murder
A man who slammed his car into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub after he was tossed from the venue has been charged with 37 of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the crash that left dozens injured early Saturday morning. Fernando Ramirez, 29, of San Clemente, faces life in prison if convicted as charged, according to Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman. Ramirez was thrown out of the Vermont Hollywood nightclub early in the morning on July 19 but returned to the bustling area in a car around 2 a.m., police said. He plowed what police described as a 'compact Nissan sedan' into a crowd of revelers, street vendors and pedestrians, with the vehicle only coming to rest after it slammed into food carts. At least 36 people sustained injuries, with some briefly trapped under the car until help arrived. Hochman said Tuesday eight of those victims suffered 'serious fractures, lacerations and broken bones.' 'But for the good grace of God, this could have been a mass casualty incident,' Hochman said. At least 23 people were hospitalized, but no fatalities were reported. Hochman said it was 'miracle' that no one died and credited the speedy response of police and firefighters for saving lives. After the crash, bystanders pulled Ramirez from the car and dragged him into the street, where he was punched, kicked and eventually shot. Authorities said he was in stable condition over the weekend. Police are still looking for the gunman. 'We understand the emotions involved but when the threat had ended ... the use of deadly force was no longer lawful,' said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. Ramirez is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday morning. It was not immediately clear if he had legal representation. The popular nightclub often has a line outside stretching down Vermont. Last Saturday it was hosting the Trapeton Party, a recurring dance party that features reggaetón and hip-hop music. Hochman said he could not comment on the altercations that led to Ramirez's removal from the club or if he was targeting anyone specifically when he allegedly barreled his car into the crowd. He also declined to comment on whether or not Ramirez was drunk or high at the time. At the scene on Saturday morning, LAPD Rampart Division Capt. Ben Fernandes said Ramirez was removed from the club for being disruptive. Ramirez has a lengthy criminal record. He was convicted of a hate crime in 2020 for assaulting a Black Whole Foods employee and sentenced to four years in prison, though part of his conviction was overturned when an appellate court ruled that a police officer violated his Miranda rights. He also has prior convictions for assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and domestic violence stretching back to 2019. At the time of Saturday's incident, he was awaiting trial on charges of driving while intoxicated and domestic battery, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Times Staff Writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.
