Authorities later discovered that the driver had been shot, the Los Angeles police revealed, as they searched for the suspected gunman who had escaped the location.
Uncertainty remains whether the driver was shot before or after the incident, or the reasons behind driving into the crowd, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department.
“This is under police investigation,” VanGerpen said. “This will be a large investigation with the LAPD.”
The club, Vermont Hollywood, was hosting a reggae/hip hop event from 10pm. to 2am, according to its online calendar.
A phone message left with the business was not immediately returned.
A fight had broken out outside of the club prior to the incident, according to Maria Medrano, who was working a food cart outside.
Shortly after, Medrano said, the car hit a group of people standing outside.
She said she and her husband, who were both selling hot dogs outside, narrowly escaped after the car struck their stand, crushing it.
“The vehicle ceased movement after colliding with a hot dog stand and became immobilized there,” Medrano recounted to The Associated Press from the hospital. “Otherwise, I doubt I would be here to narrate this.”
Medrano said she heard what appeared to be gunshots after the crash.
“Everyone started running,” she said.
