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A tragic incident unfolded early Saturday morning in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, when a car drove into a crowd of people waiting to enter a music venue, injuring 30 people. The crash happened along the busy Santa Monica Boulevard, outside the Vermont Hollywood venue, just before a reggae-hip hop event was set to begin.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the driver of the car, a Nissan Versa, hit a large group of people gathered outside the entrance. The vehicle also crashed into a street food cart and a valet stand.
“This was a very chaotic scene,” said Fire Captain Adam VanGerpen. “There were people everywhere, and some bystanders were trying to help the injured before emergency crews got there.”
Emergency responders said 23 of the injured were taken to hospitals and trauma centers, and seven of them are in critical condition. Many of the people in the crowd were women, waiting in line for the event.
As emergency teams treated the driver, they discovered he had a gunshot wound. Police are now investigating how and when he was shot – whether it was before or after he crashed the car is still unclear. The driver was also taken to a hospital, but authorities have not released his identity or condition.
The LAPD is now looking for a suspect believed to be involved in the shooting. Witnesses described the suspect as a man wearing a blue jersey and carrying a silver revolver. He was last seen fleeing the area on foot.
Fire officials said the crash scene was chaotic, with people screaming, running, and trying to help one another. Some bystanders reportedly attacked the driver after the crash, but it’s not clear what led to that.
One eyewitness, Maria Medrano, was at the scene selling hot dogs with her husband. She said a fight broke out just before the crash happened. Moments later, the car came speeding toward the crowd and slammed into the food stand where she and her husband were working.
“The car stopped only after hitting our hot dog stand. If it hadn’t, I might not be alive,” said Medrano, who spoke from the hospital where she was being treated. She also said she heard what sounded like gunshots after the crash, and people began running in panic.
Police have confirmed that they are investigating both the crash and the shooting. They are treating it as a major case and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Vermont Hollywood, the venue where the event was taking place, had a reggae-hip hop concert scheduled between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to its online calendar. The venue has not yet commented on the incident.
Authorities are now working to piece together exactly what happened — including why the driver rammed into the crowd and how he ended up with a gunshot wound. The motive remains unknown.
“This will be a large and complex investigation,” said Captain VanGerpen. “The LAPD is actively working on gathering evidence and talking to witnesses.”
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the suspected gunman remains at large. Police are urging anyone who was at the scene or who may have video footage to contact investigators.