A man has been charged with attempted murder after prosecutors say he “intentionally” drove his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians following an Oakland First Friday event in May, severely injuring several people.
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced the criminal complaint Monday against Dameon Denzel Clay.
“This case involves an intentional act of extreme violence in which the defendant drove his car onto a sidewalk, striking multiple victims and causing serious injuries,” Dickson said in a statement.
The crash occurred at about 1:37 a.m. on May 2 in the 500 block of 18th Street. According to the investigation, Oakland police received a barrage of emergency calls reporting that a vehicle had plowed into a group of people.
Prosecutors allege Clay deliberately drove onto the sidewalk and accelerated toward the crowd, striking approximately eight people before crashing into a gate. Authorities say Clay then abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
Several victims sustained serious injuries in the attack.
Clay is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Department 112 of the Alameda County Superior Court.