The suspected driver who plowed into a crowd outside an East Hollywood club, injuring 23 people, was kicked out earlier in the night for being “disruptive,” the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Seven people are in critical condition after the driver of the Nissan Versa crashed into revelers outside The Vermont Hollywood club at the corner of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. Saturday.
LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the LA Times that the suspected driver of the vehicle was thrown out of the club before getting in his car, where he mounted the sidewalk.
Bystanders pulled him from the vehicle and started assaulting him, police said. The moment was caught on video.
“From review of the video, he went up to the sidewalk further down and when he hit bystanders it was an intentional act,” Fernandes told the outlet.
“He was pulled from the car, handcuffed by security and then beaten by bystanders before being shot in the back by an individual from across the street.”
Police said the suspected gunman used a silver revolver and remains at large.
Capt. Adam VanGerpen of the Los Angeles City Fire Department described “a large chaotic scene.”
Key Points
- Suspected driver 'thrown out of the club' before 'intentionally' plowing into crowd - police
- Driver being treated for gunshot wound, officials say
- Suspected gunman still at large - LAPD
- At least 20 injured after car plows into revelers outside LA club
What condition are the victims in?
00:40 , Kelly RissmanThirty people were injured after a car rammed into an East Hollywood crowd outside of a nightclub just before 2 a.m. Saturday morning, police said.
Seven are in critical condition, six are in serious condition and 10 are in fair condition, while the remaining seven declined ambulance transportation, LAFD said.
The driver, who has not been publicly identified, was critically injured. Police say he was shot and assaulted in the wake of the incident.
What do we know about the man suspected of shooting the driver
00:20 , Kelly RissmanThe suspect who shot the driver, described as a Hispanic man, who shot the driver that plowed into a crowd outside of an East Hollywood nightclub fled the scene on foot, police said.
He’s approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, bald, wearing a blue jersey, and possibly armed with a silver revolver, LAPD said.
He was last seen heading westbound from Vermont Avenue.
What do we know about the driver
00:06 , Kelly RissmanThe suspected driver of the Nissan Versa that drove into a Los Angeles crowd was assaulted and shot after the incident, authorities said.
Before the incident, which left 23 injured, he was thrown out of the club for being disruptive, LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the LA Times.
“He was pulled from the car, handcuffed by security and then beaten by bystanders before being shot in the back by an individual from across the street,” Fernandes said.
The driver’s condition is not known.
A look at recent vehicle-ramming incidents
23:30 , The Associated PressA car that was driven into a crowd outside a Los Angeles nightclub early Saturday and injured 30 people is the latest in a series of car-ramming tragedies across the globe.
Authorities say bystanders then attacked the driver, who was later found to have been shot. Police say the suspect fled the scene.
Other vehicle-ramming incidents have claimed lives. This year, 11 people were killed in Vancouver, British Columbia, when an SUV sped down a closed street, hitting people attending a festival.
Fifteen people died in an attack along Bourbon Street that took place just before New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl.
Recap: What we know so far
23:00 , Rhian Lubin- Police arrived at the Vermont Hollywood Club on Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. local time Saturday after responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call.
- They found people injured at the scene after the driver struck the crowd with his car. The driver was being assaulted by bystanders when officers arrived and was then shot.
- The driver struck the bystanders in a Nissan Versa after being kicked out of the club earlier, the LAPD said.
- 23 people were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
- 7 of those are in a critical condition.
- On providing medical treatment to the driver, police discovered he was suffering from a gunshot wound. The driver’s condition is unknown and he is being treated in a local hospital.
- The suspected gunman is still at large.
Recap: Driver shot and attacked by bystanders
22:30 , Rhian LubinThe driver suspected of ramming his vehicle into revelers outside an East Hollywood nightclub was beaten and then shot by bystanders, police said.
Seven people are in critical condition after the driver of the Nissan Versa, who has not been identified, crashed into bystanders outside The Vermont Hollywood club at the corner of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. Saturday.
In total, 23 people were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, police said.
LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the LA Times that the suspected driver was thrown out of the club earlier for being disruptive.
Read the full story.
At least 20 injured after vehicle ‘plows into crowd’ in Los Angeles
LAPD - Suspected driver was thrown out of the club
21:37 , Rhian LubinLAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the LA Times that the suspected driver of the vehicle was thrown out of the club for being disruptive.
He then got in his car and hit bystanders in “an intentional act,” Fernandes said.
“From review of the video, he went up to the sidewalk further down and when he hit bystanders it was an intentional act.
“He was pulled from the car, handcuffed by security and then beaten by bystanders before being shot in the back by an individual from across the street.”
LAPD: Driver motive 'still under investigation'
21:30 , Rhian LubinThe LAPD said that they are still investigating the reason why the driver plowed into the crowd on the sidewalk.
The police shared a statement on X.
Around 2:00 a.m. this morning, Rampart Patrol officers responded to a radio call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the area of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. Preliminary information indicates a vehicle drove into a crowd for reasons still under investigation.
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) July 19, 2025
Locals say the area is prone to disturbances
21:00 , Rhian LubinWorkers in the area by the club said that they’re “not surprised” by the incident this morning.
Gary Hitchman, a valet parking attendant who works next to the venue, told the New York Times that it was “no surprise” as the area is prone to disturbances after revelers leave the club.
Another witness told AXN news that there is “often screaming and fights outside the club.”
Club issues statement about 'tragic incident'
20:32 , Rhian LubinThe Vermont Hollywood club has issued a statement about the incident on its official Instagram page.
We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
At approximately 2:00AM, after the conclusion of an event and as patrons were exiting the venue, a driver veered onto the sidewalk and struck multiple individuals. The suspect was immediately taken into custody by the LAPD, and an investigation is currently underway.
We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the person responsible for this horrific act is held fully accountable. We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders for their swift and compassionate action in assisting those affected.
Event at the club scheduled for tonight
18:45 , Rhian LubinThe Vermont Hollywood Club has yet to comment on the incident.
An event on the club’s website is scheduled to go ahead tonight.
Friday’s event was billed as “So-Cal’s Biggest Reggaeton & Hip-Hop Party.”
The vehicle has since been towed from the scene.
Eyewitness claims fight broke out before the crash
18:15 , Rhian Lubin, APA fight had broken out outside of the club prior to the incident, according to Maria Medrano, who was working a food cart outside.
Shortly after, Medrano said, the car hit a group of people standing outside.She said she and her husband, who were both selling hot dogs outside, narrowly escaped after the car struck their stand, crushing it.
“The car stopped once it hit the hot dog stand, it got stuck there,” Medrano told AP from the hospital. “If not, I wouldn't be here to tell (the story).”
Medrano said she heard what appeared to be gunshots after the crash. “Everyone started running,” she said.
Pictured: Emergency services at the scene early Saturday
17:45 , Rhian LubinPictures show emergency services working at the scene in the early hours of Saturday following the crash and the shooting.
What we know so far
17:15 , Rhian Lubin- Police arrived at the Vermont Hollywood Club on Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. local time Saturday after responding to an ADW (Assault with a Deadly Weapon) call.
- They found people injured at the scene after the driver struck the crowd with his car. The driver was being “assaulted by bystanders” when officers arrived.
- The driver struck the bystanders in a Nissan Versa “for unknown reasons,” the LAPD said.
- 23 people were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
- 7 of those are in a critical condition.
- On providing medical treatment to the driver, police discovered he was suffering from a gunshot wound. The driver’s condition is unknown and he is being treated in a local hospital.
- The suspected gunman is still at large.
Suspected gunman still at large
16:43 , Rhian LubinThe suspected gunman involved in Saturday morning’s shooting at the Hollywood club is still at large, the LAPD said.
It was not immediately clear whether the driver was shot before the collision or during an altercation afterward.
The LAPD described the suspected gunman as a bald Hispanic man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds.
Police said he was wearing a blue jersey and was possibly armed with a silver revolver.
The driver of the Nissan Versa is being treated for a gunshot wound in a local hospital. His condition is unknown.
LAPD: Driver of the car that hit crowd was 'being assaulted by bystanders'
16:10 , Rhian LubinThe Los Angeles Police Department told The Independent that when they arrived on the scene at 2 a.m., the driver of the vehicle that hit the crowd was being “assaulted by bystanders.”
The LAPD spokesperson also confirmed that the driver is in a local hospital being treated for gunshot wounds.
It was not immediately clear if the driver had been shot before or after the crash or why he drove into the crowd.
The suspected gunman, who used a silver revolver, remains at large.
“This morning at 2 a.m. our officers responded to a ADW (Assault with a Deadly Weapon) call.
The investigation showed that a vehicle drove into a crowd for unknown reasons.
When officers arrived, the driver of that vehicle that drove into the crowd was being assaulted by bystanders.
The officers were able to get that person medical treatment. They realized that he was suffering from a gunshot wound, so he was transported to the local hospital. Unknown condition.
'Heartbreaking tragedy' - Mayor Karen Bass
16:00 , Rhian LubinLos Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the incident outside the club was a “heartbreaking tragedy” as she paid tribute to law enforcement who rushed to the scene.
This is a heartbreaking tragedy.
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 19, 2025
I want to thank the more than 100 LAFD and LAPD personnel who responded to the scene to help to save lives.
The hearts of all Angelenos are with East Hollywood this morning and those impacted — a full investigation will be conducted into what… https://t.co/Q8Xf7TZrp9
Couple working at food stand outside club injured
15:46 , Rhian Lubin, APA couple working on a food stand outside the club when the driver of the car struck the crowd were injured in the collision, a relative said.
Francisco Mendez arrived at the scene half an hour after the incident after hearing that his sister-in-law and her husband had been injured.
The couple had been working at a hot dog stand outside the club when the car drove into the crowd, Mendez said.
“They were both hit and are now hospitalized,” Mendez told the Associated Press.
Pictures from the scene show extent of the damage
14:51 , Rhian Lubin
At least 20 injured after car plows into revelers outside LA club
14:42 , Rhian LubinAt least 20 people have been injured after the driver of a vehicle plowed into revelers outside an East Hollywood nightclub.
The Nissan Versa struck a line of people outside The Vermont Hollywood club in the early hours of Saturday.
The driver is being treated for a gunshot wound, authorities said.
“It is still unconfirmed, but we have reports that there was a gunshot wound in one of the patients. There was a patient inside the vehicle. They were able to extricate that patient. That’s still ongoing with the investigation,” said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen.
Stay with us for live updates.
