NBC News has obtained exclusive firsthand accounts from one of the 37 victims injured in the recent Los Angeles mass incident that left a city shaken and authorities scrambling for answers. According to the witness, who suffered a broken arm and multiple bruises, the chaos that erupted in downtown LA may have begun hours earlier—inside a dimly lit bar.
“An hour before he calmed down,” the victim said from their hospital bed, “I saw him. He was arguing with this guy in black. They were both shouting, and it escalated fast. He used a beer bottle, smashed it, and pointed the sharp edge right at the guy’s throat.” The young man described this moment as a chilling prelude to what later unfolded in the street, calling it “not just a random act, but something brewing for a while.”
Police have identified the suspect as 28-year-old Fernando Ramirez, who is now in custody after allegedly plowing a vehicle into a crowded pedestrian zone on Sunset Boulevard, injuring 37 people and leaving several in critical condition. Surveillance footage from both inside the bar and the neighboring alley confirms an altercation occurred around 6:15 p.m., two hours before the attack.
Bar staff told NBC News that Ramirez had been drinking alone for over an hour before being approached by the unidentified man in black. “They clearly knew each other,” said one bartender. “It wasn’t a random bar fight. There was real hate in that room.”
As the fight escalated, the man in black reportedly tried to leave, but Ramirez followed him outside, screaming threats. “It was like something snapped,” the bartender recalled. “We didn’t realize how serious it was until later.”
That “snap” might explain what led Ramirez to allegedly retrieve his truck and commit what law enforcement is now calling a “deliberate act of terror with a personal motive.” The vehicle used was a Ford F-150 registered to Ramirez’s brother, though authorities have not confirmed if he had permission to use it.
As investigators dig deeper, a disturbing digital trail has begun to emerge. Sources close to the case say Ramirez’s phone contained multiple disturbing notes and videos, one of which featured him ranting about “betrayal, chaos, and cleansing pain.” Another video reportedly shows him driving around the same neighborhood two days earlier, possibly scouting the area.
Authorities are also analyzing a manifesto-like document found in his apartment. While its contents have not been fully disclosed, a portion read aloud at the press briefing included: “I tried peace. I tried silence. But when they push you over the edge, what’s left except fire?” Officials are investigating whether the fight in the bar was a trigger or part of a premeditated plan.
Witnesses at the scene of the crash describe a scene of absolute horror. “It felt like a war zone,” said one onlooker. “People were screaming, running, some frozen in place. I saw bodies flying into the air. I’ll never forget that sound.”
Paramedics and first responders arrived within minutes, quickly identifying and triaging the wounded. Hospitals across LA reported receiving mass casualties, with several victims undergoing emergency surgery. So far, no fatalities have been confirmed, though several remain in critical condition.
Mayor Karen Bass released a statement condemning the attack and praising emergency responders: “This was an unthinkable act of violence. Los Angeles stands together with the victims and their families. We will not allow hate or personal vengeance to destroy our community.”
The investigation continues, with law enforcement asking anyone with additional footage or information to come forward. As the city grapples with the aftershock of the attack, questions remain unanswered—about Ramirez’s mental state, his motive, and the identity of the mysterious man in black.
What is clear, however, is that the violent outburst that shook the heart of Los Angeles may have started long before the crash—perhaps with a shattered bottle in a dimly lit bar, and a grudge that boiled over into madness.
