Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include a more detailed response from Carmax.
A customer seeking an appraisal on his vehicle at Carmax went on a destructive rampage over the weekend, plowing through the store with his SUV and hitting employees and customers. One customer ended up in a coma.
The incident unfolded around 2 p.m. Saturday at the Carmax showroom on La Cienega Boulevard.
According to the company, the suspect had just received an appraisal and then, according to police, went outside. Moments later, he put his SUV in reverse and drove through the doorway of the dealership, smashing the glass doors and hitting whoever was in his way, a video posted to social media showed.
“All I could see is the car coming towards me and then reverses back into the shop,” said witness Miguel Hernandez. “His reaction was incredible … Who knows what kind of charges he’s going to get charged now just because he didn’t like his approval.”
An employee and several customers were injured, according to Carmax. One victim was left in a coma after suffering a brain injury and paralysis, prosecutors said.
The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Andrew Jesus Arroyo, fled the scene but turned himself in to police a short time later. He faces several felony charges including attempted murder.
In a statement to KTLA, Carmax said employees did not believe the suspect’s actions were related to the appraisal.
“According to accounts from employees who interacted with the suspect that day, he did not complain about the offer and even spent time looking at our inventory for potential purchase,” a spokesperson said. “Employees share that they observed his behavior turn suddenly erratic, but they did not perceive it to be related to the appraisal offer. We continue to review all information available to fully understand this incident.”
