Car drives into crowd in Los Angeles: 'intentional act,' driver charged with assault

The driver was identified by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as Fernando Ramirez, 29, and is in stable condition at the hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is currently charged with assault with a potentially deadly weapon, LAPD spokeswoman Rosario Cervantes said.

According to US media reports, he had been refused entry to the nightclub, located in East Hollywood, just before the incident. A review of video footage established that it was "an intentional act," LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes said, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

The alleged attack took place around 2 a.m. on Saturday (11 a.m. in France). Videos posted on social media showed panicked people running around, victims sprawled on a blood-stained sidewalk, and others crying nearby. According to other footage, the driver was pulled from the vehicle and beaten by the crowd.

"When officers arrived, they found the driver being assaulted by bystanders and determined he had suffered a gunshot wound," police said in a statement. An LAPD spokeswoman later clarified that the shooter was still being sought.

"We have 30 victims, 18 women and 12 men in their 20s and early 30s," said LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza. Authorities said seven of the injured are in critical condition and six are in serious condition.

A group of people were waiting in line to enter the nightclub near a taco truck and valet parking when the car plowed into them, Los Angeles Fire Chief Adam VanGerpen told ABC News.

"The valet parking window and the taco truck were knocked over, and a large number of people were hit by the vehicle," he said.

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy […] The hearts of the people of Los Angeles are with all the victims affected this morning - a thorough investigation into what happened is underway," said Karen Bass, mayor of the second-largest city in the United States, in a statement.

At dawn Saturday, a car with its bumper torn off and its door in pieces was being tossed away by local authorities in front of Vermont Hollywood, an upscale concert venue and nightclub, and the ground was strewn with debris. The venue was hosting a reggae and hip-hop music event from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to its website.