OAKLAND — A suspect in a vehicle attack that seriously injured more than half a dozen people two months ago in Uptown Oakland — including a 15-year-old girl — has been charged with attempted murder, multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes, according to authorities and court records.
The court records show that investigators were able to identify Dameon Clay, 26, of San Francisco, as the suspect because he left an Electronic Benefit Transfer card and a California identification card bearing his name behind in a vehicle after he fled on foot.
After his arrest last Thursday at his San Francisco home he allegedly admitted to investigators that he was the driver of the vehicle and that he knew he had struck some people but could not explain why, according to authorities and records.
He was arraigned Tuesday on one count of attempted murder, eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of child abuse and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. The case was continued until Wednesday when he is scheduled to enter a plea and determine if he has a lawyer. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail.
The attack happened during the early morning hours of May 2 in the 500 block of 18th Street. Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove a red 2013 Hyundai Electra onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate. He apparently did not know any of those who were struck, police said.
“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,” Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said in a statement Monday.
Clay, along with a passenger, fled on foot, leaving the wrecked car behind, police said. Police said the car did not belong to him and that the passenger is still being sought.
The victims told police they had attended an Oakland First Fridays event a few hours earlier and were hanging out when they were struck. They ranged in age from 15 to 23 years old.
The victims were treated at hospitals and later listed in stable condition, police said.