The man who allegedly drove a car into a crowd of people in Los Angeles, leaving 30 people injured and 7 in critical condition, has been charged with 74 felonies.
Fernando Ramirez was charged with 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon — one count for each of the 37 victims, after allegedly driving his vehicle into a crowd of people on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, Calif., around 2:00 a.m. local time on July 19.
“The defendant’s brazen and destructive actions, as alleged in the criminal complaint, have caused unimaginable harm to dozens of innocent people,” Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement.
Hochman continued, “This is a heinous act that left dozens injured, and while the allegations will be tested in court, the impact on the victims is undeniable. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones as they begin the long road to recovery. We are committed to pursuing justice with care and compassion for those impacted.”
Ramirez, 29, was arrested on July 20 and will be arraigned on Wednesday, July 23, in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. He is being held without bail.
Ramirez, who is a resident of San Clemente, Calif., additionally has an unrelated pending domestic violence case in Orange County, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.