Tragedy Unfolds Outside The Vermont Hollywood Nightclub
What should’ve been a fun night out in East Hollywood turned into a full-blown nightmare after a car came barreling into a crowd right outside a popular nightlife hotspot.
The chaos erupted early Saturday morning along Santa Monica Boulevard, near Vermont Avenue, where The Vermont Hollywood nightclub stands — a well-known venue that stays packed on the weekends. According to police, a car crashed into a large group of people just as the party was letting out.
So far, officials have confirmed 30 people injured, with 7 in critical condition and 6 more listed as serious. Authorities haven’t dropped any names yet, but say emergency responders were overwhelmed, quickly turning the sidewalk into a makeshift triage zone.
To add to the chaos, the driver didn’t just get away. They were reportedly shot by a bystander who allegedly saw the whole thing go down and stepped in with what’s believed to be a silver revolver. A physical struggle broke out, and the suspect ended up shot. The unidentified driver was rushed to a nearby hospital and is now undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound.
As of now, officials say the driver’s condition remains unclear.
“LAFD is coordinating patient triage and transport at this time,” authorities confirmed in an early morning statement.
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Mayor Karen Bass Responds: ‘The Hearts of Angelenos Are With All of the Victims’
Mayor Karen Bass quickly issued a heartfelt response to the tragic situation:
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. I want to thank the more than 100 LAFD and LAPD personnel who responded to the scene to help to save lives.”
She continued:
“The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning — a full investigation into what happened is underway.”
According to LAPD, the motive behind the crash is still unknown. Authorities are currently reviewing surveillance footage, speaking to witnesses, and reconstructing the scene to determine if this was intentional or just reckless behavior gone too far.
We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops.