Los Angeles Nightclub Chaos: 30 Injured After Car Attack Outside The Vermont Hollywood

Car Attack Turns East Hollywood Nightclub Night into Chaos

What looked like a typical Saturday night at The Vermont Hollywood suddenly turned violent when a car plowed into a crowd waiting outside the music venue. The crash, which happened just after midnight on July 20, 2025, sent shockwaves through the East Hollywood neighborhood. By the time the dust settled, Los Angeles police had counted at least 30 injured—nearly two dozen of whom needed hospital care, most of them women.

The chaos started after a man named Fernando Ramirez, 29, was removed from the club by security for causing a scene. Witnesses said he was angry and confrontational as he was led away. But nobody could have guessed what happened next: less than an hour later, Ramirez returned behind the wheel of a gray Nissan sedan, speeding directly onto the sidewalk packed with people, many waiting for friends or lining up to buy tacos from a popular street stand nearby.

Pandemonium broke out as the car slammed first into the taco stand, then into the valet podium, before finally careening through the waiting crowd. Screams rang out as dozens were thrown to the ground. Shoes and cell phones littered the pavement. Multiple witnesses caught the aftermath on their phones, capturing scenes of chaos, confusion, and a badly crumpled vehicle surrounded by concert-goers still in shock.

The instinct to fight back took hold almost instantly. Witnesses say several people yanked Ramirez from the driver’s seat while he was dazed, some reportedly striking him in a desperate effort to subdue him. The situation escalated even further when, amid the melee, someone pulled out a gun and shot Ramirez. He survived, but was left with serious injuries and was quickly taken into custody under police guard.

Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation

The LAPD arrived quickly, but what caused Ramirez’s rage, and how he was able to get back behind the wheel so fast, remain questions without clear answers. Detectives are looking into whether drugs or alcohol might have fueled his actions. Neighbors said the club, known for late-night crowds and music events, has never seen anything like this before.

Most of the victims were women in their 20s and 30s who had been waiting outside to enter or enjoying street food. Some had to be carried off on stretchers. Hospitals reported that while some injuries were serious, there were no reported fatalities as of Saturday afternoon. Families of the injured gathered anxiously in waiting rooms as doctors worked to treat a range of traumas—from broken bones to head wounds.

Police secured the area for hours, combing for evidence and canvassing with security footage. Questions loom about the identity of the bystander who shot Ramirez. Detectives say they are not ruling out any possibilities: vigilante action, self-defense, or an accidental discharge during the scuffle. They have asked anyone with footage or information to come forward.

The city is grappling with the aftereffects of the incident. East Hollywood residents, shaken by the violence, want reassurance that club and public event safety is being taken seriously. For now, the dance floor at The Vermont Hollywood is silent—its regulars, staff, and the entire neighborhood left reeling from a night that none of them saw coming.