LOS ANGELES, CA — A 29-year-old man is facing over 70 criminal charges after allegedly driving his car into a crowd outside a club in East Hollywood, injuring dozens, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced.
Fernando Ramirez, responsible for the East Hollywood mass vehicle attack, is accused of driving onto the sidewalk in the 1000 block of North Vermont Avenue around 2 a.m., striking a group of people gathered outside the venue. Authorities confirmed that 37 individuals were injured, many with serious fractures and deep cuts.
Ramirez faces 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, with the vehicle itself considered the weapon in the attack. Police described the incident as one that could have easily resulted in a mass casualty event.
Ramirez remains in custody without bail and is scheduled for arraignment this Wednesday. If convicted, he could face multiple life sentences.
Meanwhile, police are searching for a second suspect who allegedly shot Ramirez in the buttocks after the crash. While the shooting was not justified, the Los Angeles Police Chief warned that using deadly force after the threat was over was illegal and put bystanders at risk.
