‘Intentional act’: 30 injured as driver slams into crowd outside LA club

Police have revealed disturbing new details after a vehicle ploughed into a crowd of people waiting to enter a Hollywood nightclub.

The driver who drove into a crowd of people outside a Hollywood nightclub injuring 30 before being set upon by bystanders who dragged him from the car before someone shot him has been charged was charged with assault.

Police have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez and have charged him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police told AFP.

Ramirez had been kicked out of The Vermont Hollywood nightclub in East Hollywood which was hosting the Trapeton Party, a recurring dance party that draws a predominantly Latino crowd.

He then deliberately rammed his vehicle into the crowd, US media reported.

Ramirez had been “undergoing surgery” at a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound from the incident.

“He is not free to leave, he is in the custody of Los Angeles Police Department,” LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza told local news station KCAL.

A vehicle sits on the sidewalk after ramming into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub along a busy boulevard in Los Angeles. Picture: AP

In chaotic scenes, the grey Nissan Versa drove onto the sidewalk around 2am local time and hit a valet stand and taco stand before slamming into a light pole and the crowd as clubgoers congregated outside.

“From review of the video he went up to the sidewalk further down and when he hit bystanders it was an intentional act,” Captain Fernandes said.

“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.”

Based on reviewing a video of the incident, “when he hit bystanders, it was an intentional act,” Captain Fernandes told the Los Angeles Times.

Law enforcement investigate the scene. Picture: AP

Authorities were still searching for the gunman who shot and wounded the driver before fleeing on foot, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesman Rosario Cervantes said.

Footage posted on social media showed panicked people running outside the club and victims sprawled on a bloodstained sidewalk, while others sobbed nearby.

“When officers arrived, they found the driver being assaulted by bystanders and determined he had sustained a gunshot wound,” a police statement said.

A vehicle sits on the sidewalk after ramming into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub along a busy boulevard in Los Angeles. Picture: AP

Law enforcement investigate the scene where a vehicle rammed into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub. Picture: AP

More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in East Hollywood.

“We have 30 victims, 18 females and 12 males between the ages of the mid-twenties to early thirties,” Carranza said.

Seven were in critical condition and six were in serious condition, authorities said. Ten suffered minor injuries while seven left the hospital against medical advice.

Many clubgoers had been outside when the car ploughed into the crowd, a taco truck and a valet stand.

“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were … getting some food, waiting to go in. And there’s also a valet line there,” Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News.

“The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.” At dawn Saturday, a tow truck hauled away the car, its bumper torn off.

An area is roped off after a vehicle rammed into a crowd of people. Picture: AP

Los Angeles Police officers interview people inside a nightclub after a vehicle rammed into a crowd gathered outside "The Vermont" nightclub in Los Angeles. Picture: AP

Club employees power washed the sidewalk outside The Vermont Hollywood, which had been hosting a reggae and hip-hop event.

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 in Hollywood, LA. Picture: Instagram

The Vermont Hollywood club said on social media 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 sidewalk emblazoned with stars commemorating movie industry figures.