A car drove into a crowd outside a nightclub in Hollywood in the early hours of Saturday, injuring 30 people, according to police. Bystanders attacked and shot the driver before officers detained him.
The suspect, who was taken to hospital for surgery, remains in stable condition. “He is not free to leave; he is in LAPD custody,” said Lillian Carranza of the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities are considering charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
Police said the chaos began around 2 am local time when the car — reportedly a Nissan Versa — ploughed into people gathered outside The Vermont Hollywood nightclub. The vehicle also struck a taco truck and a valet stand.
After the crash, the crowd pulled the driver from the car, assaulted him, and someone shot him before fleeing on foot. Police are still searching for the gunman.
Social media footage captured scenes of panic, injured victims lying on the blood-stained pavement, and emotional onlookers. One video showed the driver handcuffed and being beaten by the crowd.
“When officers arrived, they found the driver being assaulted by bystanders and discovered he had a gunshot wound,” police said.
More than 100 firefighters responded. Captain Adam Van Gerpen of the Los Angeles Fire Department explained that many people were queuing to enter the club, eating at the taco stand, or waiting in the valet line when the car struck.
“We have 30 victims — 18 women and 12 men — all aged from their mid-twenties to early thirties,” Carranza stated. Seven were critically injured, six were in serious condition, ten had minor injuries, and seven left hospital against medical advice.
By dawn, a tow truck had removed the damaged vehicle. Club workers washed blood from the pavement outside the venue, which had been hosting a reggae and hip-hop night.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the incident as “a heartbreaking tragedy” and confirmed that a full investigation is underway. The Vermont Hollywood also issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the event.
The crash occurred near Hollywood landmarks such as Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame.