Charges Filed Against Driver in LA Nightclub Incident

A man has been charged after driving his vehicle into a crowd outside a Los Angeles nightclub over the weekend.

Fernando Ramirez, 29, from San Clemente, is facing 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts related to the use of deadly weapons due to a crash that injured 37 people on Saturday night.

“This incident has deeply affected our community, but thankfully, it could have been much worse,” said LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

Hochman noted that eight individuals sustained “significant physical injuries” in the chaos.

“He drove directly onto the sidewalk, intentionally targeting the crowd of pedestrians at 2 AM,” he added.

Most of the victims were women who were waiting to enter nearby nightclubs in Hollywood.

The car also collided with food vending carts and a valet stand, adding to the pandemonium.

Bystanders attempted to help, but in the turmoil, one individual pulled a gun and shot at Ramirez.

Authorities are still hunting for the shooter.

Interestingly, Ramirez had a lengthy criminal background and was on parole during the incident.

Reports indicate he was previously convicted of felony battery in 2019 after a violent encounter at a Whole Foods store, leading to his imprisonment the next year. The specifics surrounding his parole release are unclear.

Data from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office shows Ramirez has been involved in at least 11 criminal cases since 2014.

These cases include gang-related accusations from 2014, a pending DUI case from 2024, and an unsolved domestic violence incident from 2022.

If convicted of the current charges, he could face life imprisonment.