The trial for a man accused of injuring more than two dozen people after plowing his car into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub last year has been scheduled.
Fernando Ramirez, 30, of San Clemente, is scheduled to head to trial beginning Oct. 5 in connection with the July 19, 2025, crash. The defendant faces 39 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 45 counts of attempted murder after prosecutors say he intentionally drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk and toward a crowd outside a nightclub on the 100 block of North Vermont Avenue.
Law enforcement said the crash was reported at about 2 a.m. after Ramirez was kicked out of the club for being disruptive and intoxicated. More than 30 people were hurt when he drove into the crowd, striking bystanders and a food vending cart at the scene, officials said. LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza said the crash appeared to have been intentional.
Following the chaos, an alleged vigilante shot the defendant in the lower back after he was pulled out of the vehicle, Sgt. Travis Ward, LAPD Central Traffic Division Watch Commander, said.
The gunman was identified as Efrain Villalobos, now 29, of Lawndale, police said. He was charged with one felony count each of assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon and ordered to stand trial.
Ramirez is due back in court on July 14 for a pretrial hearing. It’s unclear if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
Two street vendors who were among those struck by a driver that plowed through a crowd in East Hollywood share their harrowing experience. Darsha Philips reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.