A woman was hospitalized in critical condition early Wednesday morning after police say she became the innocent victim of a man who appeared to be intoxicated, angry after two other women made fun of him.
Outside of a West Hollywood nightclub at Robertson Boulevard and El Tovar Place around 2:10 a.m., investigators say a man in his 20s was throwing up, and two women walking by made fun of him.
A man identified as Joseph Asuna, 23, of Bakersfield, then allegedly attacked the two women with a belt, leaving bruises and scratches.
After the assault, investigators say he then went to a nearby parking lot and he and Hector Hernandez, 29, of Whittier, returned to the scene by car.
The car attempted to run over another woman who was trying to take down the car’s license plate before targeting a man and a woman.
“And he proceeded to run, strike another male and a female that were in the street, unrelated to the initial assault,” said Lt. Michael White of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Reports indicated Hernandez was behind the wheel.
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“The female that was struck by the car was run over and she is presently in critical condition at a local hospital,” White said.
Both suspects were arrested soon after the incident at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Genessee Avenue and taken to the West Hollywood Station.
Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and DUI. He is being held in lieu of $40,000 bail.
Osuna was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
City News Service contributed to this report.
