A man accused of driving into a crowd on a sidewalk in Los Angeles, injuring 36 people, has a criminal history that includes a felony battery conviction, according to officials.
The driver, recognized by police as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was reportedly attacked by a bystander following the incident early Saturday in East Hollywood. Paramedics later found him shot and killed.
Authorities are looking for the suspected shooter, described as a man with a goat beard wearing a blue Dodgers jacket.
Ramirez, who hails from San Clemente, California, was recovering and was expected to face a felony charge related to assault with a deadly weapon. He couldn’t be reached for comment and wasn’t sure if he had legal representation.
Los Angeles Police Captain Ben Fernandez informed KNBC-TV that Ramirez had been paroled since 2020 after a prior altercation outside a Whole Foods in June 2019. It remains unclear whether this incident was tied to the earlier attack or a different case.
Reports indicate that Ramirez has at least 11 criminal cases, spanning from misdemeanors to felonies. In January 2022, he faced charges for felony household battery and pleaded not guilty. That case is still active.
According to Fire Captain Adam Vangelpen, a large group, mostly women, waiting to enter the Vermont Hollywood venue around 2 a.m. were struck by a Nissan that also collided with a vending cart and valet stand.
On Sunday, police reported that at least 36 individuals received treatment for injuries, including fractures and lacerations, but updates on their conditions were not provided.
Authorities are still investigating whether Ramirez was shot before or after the crash and the reasons behind his actions that led to the collision with the crowd.
