Police Seek Man Who Shot The Driver Who Plowed Into Nightclub Crowd

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Police Department Sunday released photos of the man they believe shot the driver who allegedly intentionally plowed into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub, injuring three dozen people after being ejected from the venue.

The crash was reported just before 2 a.m. Saturday in the 4600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, near Vermont Avenue, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. The crowd was standing outside The Vermont Hollywood, where a show was taking place.

Seven people were hospitalized in critical condition, six were seriously injured and 10 were in fair condition, Lantz said. Seven people were assessed at the scene and declined hospitalization.

As of Sunday evening, only one patient remained in critical -- but stable -- condition, and had broken leg, according to NBC4.

The vehicle crashed into a taco stand and a valet stand along the way.

Police said Sunday that at least 36 victims had injuries ranging from minor pain to serious fractures and lacerations, that several were struck by the vehicle and that some were briefly trapped beneath it.

Video from the scene showed firefighters putting red, yellow and green tarps in the street to triage patients, and a heavily dented car with a shattered windshield and broken headlights on the sidewalk in front of the venue.

Multiple ambulances lined the street.

After the crash, the motorist was pulled from the damaged vehicle and beaten by onlookers. Officers dispatched to the scene in response to an "assault with deadly weapon" call determined that the man had suffered a gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was taken to a hospital, where his condition was not provided, but his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

On Sunday, police provided more information, saying he had been shot in the lower back.

The shooting suspect ran from the scene. He was last seen westbound from Vermont Avenue.

On Sunday, police released photos of a man believed to be the gunman, describing him as Hispanic, 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7, and 150 to 170 pounds. He was seen wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, a light-blue jersey with the number "5," and blue jeans. He has gauges (wide piercings) in both ears and a goatee.

He is bald in photos released by police, who earlier described him as possibly armed with a silver revolver.

The driver was identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes told City News Service. He was booked for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and force likely to produce great bodily injury.

LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes told the Los Angeles Times that Ramirez was kicked out of the nightclub for being disruptive before he crashed into the crowd.

NBC4 Investigates reported Sunday that Ramirez, of San Clemente, was on parole at the time of the crash and has had at least 11 criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. He reportedly was sentenced in 2020 for attacking a man outside a Laguna Beach Whole Foods market.

Ramirez had a felony domestic battery charge from January 2022 which remained open, NBC4 reported. And the Orange County DA's office told the station he has a pending DUI case.

In a statement issued Saturday morning, Mayor Karen Bass called the crash a "heartbreaking tragedy. I want to thank the more than 100 LAFD and LAPD personnel who responded to the scene to help to save lives. The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning -- a full investigation into what happened is underway."

Anyone with information regarding the shooting was urged to call the LAPD's Rampart Community Police Station at 213-484-3424. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

— City News Service