At least eight people were injured Saturday after a customer plowed their vehicle into a CarMax store in Inglewood, California (located about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles). Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Jonathan Torres said that two people were critically hurt at the dealership, while the other six had minor injuries.
Police were dispatched to the store on the 8600 block of S. La Cienega Boulevard at around 2:03 p.m. local time, after a customer exited the building, entered a vehicle and drove into the business. Per the Inglewood Police Department, the incident is being investigated as an intentional act, with police noting that a “business dispute” may have been the driver’s motive.
Video of the crash circulating on social media shows a silver Subaru SUV backing into the business via a doorway before the vehicle pivoted in a lobby area and drove out of the opposite end of the building. Police say the unidentified driver left the store following the crash and turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department at a police academy on Manchester Avenue. He was arrested and is being detained. The suspect faces multiple counts, including assault with a deadly weapon.
In a statement, CarMax said the suspect was a customer who was having his vehicle appraised: “The safety of our associates, community and customers is our top priority. We are deeply saddened by this event and our hearts go out to everyone impacted. We appreciate the authorities’ swift response to this terrible event.” The company said it has ‘a plan of action in place’ and is “working with the authorities on the investigation.”
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