Nightclub Chaos in Los Angeles: Dozens Injured As Car Plows Into Crowd, Driver Shot
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News
LOS ANGELES, USA (Worthy News) – A night out turned to horror early Saturday in the U.S. city of Los Angeles when a man rammed his vehicle into a crowd outside a nightclub, injuring at least 30 people before being dragged from the car and shot by furious bystanders, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said seven people were critically injured and at least 23 others sustained various injuries in the incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. outside The Vermont Hollywood, a popular nightclub hosting a reggae and hip-hop event.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the driver — who had reportedly been ejected from the club for intoxicated and disruptive behavior — returned moments later in a Nissan Versa and slammed into a line of partygoers, a taco cart, and a valet stand in the East Hollywood area.
“It was chaos,” said Fire Captain Adam VanGerpen, who described a line of mostly women waiting to enter the venue when the car hit. “The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.”
Amateur video and eyewitness accounts suggest that people inside the club rushed out to assist the wounded before emergency crews arrived. But others turned on the driver. When police arrived, they found him being physically assaulted by a group of bystanders. He had also suffered a gunshot wound, officers said.
Paramedics transported the unidentified driver to a nearby hospital. His condition and identity have not yet been released. The suspected shooter was described as a man wearing a blue jersey and armed with a silver revolver, but no arrest has been announced.
GETTING STUCK
One of the near victims, Maria Medrano, who was working a food stand with her husband outside the club, described a narrow escape.
“The car stopped once it hit the hot dog stand. It got stuck there,” she said from her hospital bed. “If not, I wouldn’t be here to tell this story.”
She added that shortly after the crash, she heard what sounded like gunshots and saw people scatter. “Everyone started running,” Medrano said.
Law enforcement sources say they are still reviewing security footage and eyewitness reports, but early indications suggest the act may have been intentional.
LAPD has launched a major investigation and is asking the public for additional footage or information.
The violent episode has shocked the Los Angeles community and drawn international attention, as urban nightlife venues around the world increasingly grapple with the threat of targeted violence and vehicular attacks.
TRAGEDY STRIKES
It was seen as a reminder that tragedy can strike in moments of joy and celebration, amid expected calls for greater protections around nightlife zones.
The Los Angeles incident also underscored how public frustration and trauma can quickly escalate into vigilante action. While some witnesses rushed to help victims, others appeared to take justice into their own hands.
Police have not confirmed whether the shooting of the driver was in retaliation or an act of self-defense. Authorities stressed that the case is still developing.
LAPD Public Information Officer Jeffrey Lee said the condition of the driver was still unknown, but added, “Thankfully, as of right now, nobody has died from this.”
Lee said that it was not immediately clear what caused the man to plow into the crowd, but that officers had been made aware of a potential dispute between the driver and patrons inside the nightclub and that the man had been ejected from the establishment before the ramming episode.
“The primary focus is going to be what led to this,” Lee said. “What caused this driver to plow into this crowd? Was it intentional, was it not intentional? Was it [driving under influence] DUI-related? Was it personal? We don’t know, but detectives will look at all those angles.”
“This will be a large and complex investigation,” added Captain VanGerpen. “We’re just at the beginning.”
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