At least 30 people were injured in a violent and chaotic scene early Saturday morning in East Hollywood after a car plowed through a large crowd gathered outside a nightclub. The driver was then pulled from the vehicle and shot by a bystander, Los Angeles police said.
The disturbing incident unfolded just before 2 a.m. near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, an area known for its nightlife.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the chain of events began when an individual was removed from a nearby business. That same person allegedly got into a car and deliberately drove into a crowd gathered outside The Vermont, a music venue hosting a reggae and hip hop event that night.
First responders described a grim and chaotic scene. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported that at least 23 people had to be transported to local hospitals, including seven listed in critical condition and six more in serious condition. Over a dozen others were treated at the scene. Among the injured was a male victim with a gunshot wound.
LAFD said the injured individuals included clubgoers, valet attendants, and patrons of a taco vendor stationed outside the venue. In total, 124 fire personnel responded to the mass-casualty incident.
Captain Adam Van Gerpen of the LAFD described the aftermath: “They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were grabbing food, waiting to go in. There’s also a valet line. The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.”
The vehicle involved was a Nissan Versa, which struck numerous people before coming to a stop. Witnesses at the scene said several bystanders rushed to the vehicle, dragged the driver out, and attacked him. During the altercation, the driver was shot. Authorities have not released his condition or identity at this time.
The shooter fled the scene and is currently at large. Police described the suspect as a bald Hispanic man, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing around 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue jersey and may be armed with a silver revolver, LAPD said.
Initially, the LAFD had stated that the driver might have lost consciousness during the crash, but later clarified to ABC7 that this could no longer be confirmed, leaving open the question of whether the act was intentional or an accident turned deadly.
The LAPD is now investigating both the motive behind the crash and the shooting that followed. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident was an intentional act of violence or a reckless response to being ejected from the establishment.
Mayor Karen Bass released a statement on Saturday expressing her condolences and support for those affected. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” she said. “I want to thank the more than 100 LAFD and LAPD personnel who responded to the scene to help save lives. The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning. A full investigation into what happened is underway.”
The club’s online calendar indicated that the event being held Friday night into early Saturday was scheduled to end at 2 a.m., around the same time the crash occurred.
Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage from the scene to come forward as detectives work to piece together the circumstances of this violent outbreak in one of Los Angeles’ busiest nightlife districts.
As of now, the identity of the driver and the motive for the crash remain under investigation, as does the identity and whereabouts of the armed suspect who fled the scene.