(Los Angeles) A man suspected of having rushed on the crowd on a sidewalk in Los Angeles, injuring 36 people, has a criminal record including a conviction for assault and injuries, authorities said on Sunday.
The driver, identified by the police like Fernando Ramirez, 29, was assaulted by passers -by after the accident occurred early Saturday in East Hollywood. The paramedics then noted that he had been injured by bullet. The police were still looking for the alleged shooter, described as a man wearing a beard and a blue jacket of the Dodgers.
Ramirez, originally from San Clemente, California, was recovering and was to respond to an accusation of aggression with deadly weapon. He could not be joined to comment on the case and we did not know if he was represented by a lawyer.
Captain Ben Fernandes, from Los Angeles police, said Ramirz to be sentenced in 2020 on Sunday for attacked a man in front of a Whole Foods grocery store in June 2019. He was on conditional freedom at the time of the accident on Saturday, but it is unknown if the incident was linked to the attack of 2019 or another case.
Ramirez was charged with at least 11 criminal cases, ranging from minor crimes to crimes, KNBC reported. In January 2022, he was charged with domestic violence and pleaded not guilty. The case is still in progress.
A line of people, mainly women, waited to enter the Vermont Hollywood performance hall around 2 am when they were struck by a Nissan Versa which also struck a food sales trolley and a valet service, said Captain Adam Vangerpen on Saturday.
At least 36 people were treated for injuries, including fractures and lacerations, police said on Sunday, without providing new information on their health.
It is still unknown if Ramirez was injured by bullet before or after the accident, and why he rushed into the crowd.
