A driver in Florida was arrested, accused of attempting to strike members of an LGBTQ+ running group with his Ford Bronco on Monday night, authorities said.
The West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) charged 43-year-old Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud in the incident, according to a press release from Night Runners WPB.
El Mahmoud previously became agitated after a perceived comment from a male running group member, police said. He faces two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving. Officials are also reviewing the case for possible enhancement under Florida’s hate crime statute, the press release added.
Newsweek reached out to the WPBPD for more information via email Wednesday. It is unclear if El Mahmoud has legal representation.
Why It Matters
The incident has heightened awareness around targeted violence and potential hate crimes in the United States, particularly as law enforcement reviews whether the charges qualify for hate crime enhancements under Florida law.
The response from local police and firsthand accounts from running club members offer crucial insights into the risks faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and the importance of community safety.
The arrest has also raised concerns on the safety of marginalized communities participating in public activities.
What To Know
Members of Night Runners WPB reported that the driver made several passes in an apparent attempt to hit group members, accelerated toward them, then drove across sidewalks, grass and an embankment before fleeing via Okeechobee Boulevard, WPBPD said in a press release.
Witnesses provided police with a description of the suspect’s vehicle and officers soon found a man matching the description in a parking garage, authorities said, who added that officers watched El Mahmoud trying to remove the vehicle’s license plate before detaining him.
Rudolph Galindo, a member of the running club, told ABC News that the suspect was “bothered” when Galindo asked him if he was there for the running club. While officials review the case for possible hate crime charges, El Mahmoud faces two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving.
Night Runners WPB hosts walks and runs twice a week. Club members described the incident as traumatic, saying that about 40 people were at the event.
Witnesses said they took cover behind trees and attempted to alert others as the SUV approached at high speed, CBS 12 reported.
What People Are Saying
Galindo, also treasurer of Night Runners WPB, to ABC News: “As I was talking to a few others, I saw out of the corner of my eye that he got into his car and then started accelerating in reverse directly toward me where I was standing in the parking lot.”
WPBPD, in a press release: “The West Palm Beach Police Department arrested an SUV driver who attempted to strike members of a local running club at a park, making multiple passes and driving recklessly before fleeing. Officers later located him in a downtown parking garage, where he was taken into custody without incident. He faces multiple charges.”
What Happens Next
El Mahmoud was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday as officials continue assessing whether the incident meets the criteria for a hate crime enhancement under Florida law.