Felony charges were announced Tuesday against the driver in a crash that injured dozens of people outside an East Los Angeles nightclub.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez faces 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
Hochman said Ramirez intentionally drove his car “through a sea of pedestrians” when he crashed into a crowd of people early Saturday morning outside The Vermont Hollywood near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue.
Seven people were hospitalized in critical condition, six were seriously injured and 10 were in fair condition. Seven people were assessed at the scene and declined hospital transport. As of Sunday evening, only one patient remained in critical, but stable, condition.
The SUV also crashed into a taco stand and a valet stand.
“(The crash) turned a popular nightlife district into a scene of trauma and fear,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a Tuesday news conference to announce the charges.
Ramirez was hospitalized after he was pulled from the car, beaten by witnesses and shot. Details about his condition were not available, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Two LAPD sources told NBC4 that the driver was fighting in the club and was kicked out of the venue. He returned to the club and began to fight again. He was thrown out by security for being intoxicated and disruptive, according to law enforcement. The man then got in his car and drove into the crowd, according to the sources.
Ramirez, of San Clemente, has a lengthy criminal record in Orange County dating back to 2014.
Authorities are seeking information about the person who shot the driver.