Officials continued to look for a gunman, and police said early Saturday, people were interested in driving into a crowd outside a popular East Hollywood music venue, injured dozens of people.
Norma Eisenman, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, said Sunday that the gunman is still the whole. LAPD officials said he fled westward on Vermont Avenue for the last time in his blue jersey, probably a blue jersey with a silver revolver.
Captain Ben Fernandes, LAPD, told ABC-7 News that he left behind a chaotic and bloody scene after the nightclub safely attempted to detain the driver, another man from across the street, shot him and shot him.
According to LAPD, the driver was identified by police as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, who was thrown out of the Vermont Hollywood Club that night before returning to the area around 2 a.m. His vehicles attacked street vendors and dozens of late-night clubs, causing several medical emergencies and causing fear and anger from the crowd.
LAPD officials said bystanders pulled the driver out of his car and attacked him – video showed Ramirez being punched and kicked – at some point, he was shot dead.
Fernandez said Ramirez is expected to face several felony charges, he recovered from surgery due to injury and is in a stable condition.
Officials reported that there were 30 injured people, seven of whom were injured. At least 23 people were hospitalized. A LAPD spokesman said Sunday that the agency has not updated any of the victims’ status.
Given the size of the crowd, Fernandez said the incident could easily get caught up in massive casualties.
“Honestly, I believe this is a miracle,” Fernandez told NBC-4 News.
A witness told ABC-7 News that he had seen at least 30 people after the crash.
Another said it was “like a movie.”
Another unidentified witness told ABC-7 News: “You see shoes flying, you see changes, money, there are hot dog racks… they’re hit.”
Eduardo Lopez, who worked from a nightclub from a taco truck on the street earlier Saturday, said he heard the crash and the screams that followed.
“I’m worried,” he told NBC-4, describing his reaction. “People run. A lot of people are injured.”
The popular music venue remains very quiet just hours after more than 120 firefighters and health care workers responded to the horror scene.
Saturday’s event organizers canceled what was expected to be a sold-out show, citing “unfortunate accident” the night before.
“The safety and enjoyment of our guests remains our top priority and we think it is inappropriate to continue tonight’s event out of respect for the individuals affected,” the musician and organizer shared on Instagram on Saturday.
“We are very sad about the tragic incident that happened in the early hours of Saturday,” the Vermont Hollywood Club posted in a statement online and outside the door. “We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure that the person responsible for this horrible act is fully responsible.”
On Friday night, the club hosted the Trapeton Party, a recurring dance party that included reggae bands and hip-hop and attracted a major Latino population. On Saturday, an electronic dance music collection was planned, with major artists posting online that they hoped to be sold out, just before the organizers decided to postpone the show. Tickets will be recognized on the makeup date in August, organizers said.
Times worker Richard Winton contributed to the report.
