LOS ANGELES, CA – A customer allegedly enraged over a vehicle appraisal at a CarMax dealership in Inglewood drove an SUV into the store on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least eight people and causing significant damage, authorities said.
The incident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. at the CarMax location near the intersection of South La Cienega Boulevard and Manchester Avenue. According to law enforcement and witnesses, the suspect had visited the dealership to have his vehicle appraised. Following a dispute over the offer he received, the man reportedly became agitated, attacked an employee, and then rammed his SUV into the building.
Video captured by witnesses and shared on social media shows the SUV backing into the glass-fronted lobby before pivoting and driving through the showroom, narrowly missing bystanders. The driver exited the other side of the building and fled the scene. He was arrested by police approximately a mile away from the dealership.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed that two people were critically injured in the crash, while six others suffered minor injuries. All victims were said to be in stable condition, though their identities and current medical statuses have not been disclosed.
Witnesses described the moments of panic as customers and employees scrambled to escape the vehicle’s path.
“We suddenly saw a fight, it was really loud. Security tried to stop the guy,” said witness Sim Wang. “I saw the car run over several people. One sales rep’s hand was crushed. It was two or five steps from me.”
Another witness, Mitchell Marshall, said he observed the driver intentionally ramming the building twice. “I seen him arguing. Then he backed up, made a U-turn, and rammed it—not once, but twice,” he said. “The first time was a big boom. The second time, crunching. I’m a vet. I heard a boom and took cover.”
Authorities are reviewing video footage as part of their investigation. The suspect’s identity has not been released, and it remains unclear what criminal charges he may face.
CarMax confirmed the incident in a written statement, saying, “This afternoon, a customer drove through our Inglewood, California store, hitting and injuring several employees and customers who are receiving medical care at this time. We appreciate the authorities’ response to this terrible event. The safety of our employees, community, and customers is our top priority. We’re deeply saddened by this event and our hearts go out to everyone impacted.”
The store was boarded up following the incident as crews worked to clean up the damage. The full extent of structural damage to the building has not been made public.
The investigation is ongoing.
