Driver Accused Of Plowing Into L.a. Crowd Charged With 37 Counts Of Attempted Murder

A man who authorities said intentionally drove a car into a crowd of group outside a Los Angeles nightclub past week has been charged pinch 37 counts of attempted murder, nan Los Angeles County territory lawyer said Tuesday.

Fernando Ramirez, 29, could look aggregate sentences of life successful situation if convicted, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. In summation to nan attempted execution counts, Ramirez is charged pinch 37 counts of battle pinch a deadly weapon.

Hochman said nan incident early Saturday “could person been catastrophic” and that it was a occurrence that nary 1 mislaid their lives.

“When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it astatine a full oversea of pedestrians that were successful beforehand of him connected nan sidewalk astatine 2 a.m.,” Hochman said. “Many of them were astatine nan taco truck, aliases they were waiting astatine valet aliases they were waiting to get into nan club.”

Over 100 first responders rushed to nan segment extracurricular nan Vermont Hollywood nightclub, authorities said.

Ramirez, of San Clemente successful Orange County, southbound of Los Angeles, was being held without bail and is scheduled to beryllium arraigned Wednesday, Hochman said. It was not clear Tuesday evening if he had an attorney.

Ramirez is accused of driving a Nissan compact sedan connected nan sidewalk of Vermont Avenue, southbound from Santa Monica Boulevard, earlier striking carts that were apt vendors and yet stopping aft hitting a ray pole, constabulary said.

An investigation into what led up to nan incident and really it unfolded is ongoing, officials said.

Two rule enforcement sources acquainted pinch nan business person said that nan driver had been kicked retired of nan venue for being intoxicated and disruptive.

After crashing into nan crowd, bystanders pulled nan driver from nan vehicle, officials said. Someone from crossed nan thoroughfare past approached and changeable him successful nan back, nan Los Angeles Police Department said.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said nan shooting was not justified.

"We understand nan emotions involved, but erstwhile nan threat had ended and nan fishy was nary longer actively harming others, nan usage of deadly unit was some unlawful and vulnerable to everybody present," McDonnell said.

Detectives are working to place nan shooter and apprehension him, he said.