What started as a typical Monday night jog turned terrifying in West Palm Beach, Florida, as members from an LGBTQ+ running group faced a vehicle attack that left them scrambling. A dark SUV repeatedly charged at them, forcing everyone in its path, in a desperate dash, towards safety.
Members from this club shared their intense ordeal with police, painting a picture where a driver in a dark SUV aggressively tried running them down, making several attempts. With no time left, runners scattered, diving behind trees in a nearby park.
Survivors describe their encounter with danger
"When a car's flying at you that fast, it's unreal. I've never felt anything like it," said Rudolph Galindo, treasurer at Night Runners club. He recalled approaching a man in a parking lot, assuming he might be there join their run.
Something felt off, and when Galindo asked, an annoyed reply convinced him otherwise. But soon, it was clear something sinister was in motion.
"The guy got in his car, floored it, and headed straight towards me," Galindo shared, recalling how over 40 runners, including himself, sprinted away.
Runners sought cover behind trees, hoping these would keep them from harm. "We gathered behind this tree and that banyan tree over there, hoping it was safe," said Galindo.
The sound was unforgettable—the screeching tires as that charcoal grey Ford Bronco whipped past. It was all recorded on a cell phone while runners hunched over, desperately hiding behind a massive banyan tree.
"Even behind a tree, it felt like there was no limit on what he might do," Galindo said.
How police caught up with an SUV on a mission
In one final reckless move, he drove on a third pass, leaping a curb and tearing through lawns, leaving a trail when he hit a boulevard, blending back with traffic towards downtown.
West Palm Beach authorities were quick, issuing an alert based on eyewitnesses. The SUV cruised down Okeechobee Boulevard about a mile and a half before stopping in a garage. The driver was caught messing with his license plate.
Police arrested 43-year-old Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, facing serious charges now: two counts aggravated assault with a felony intent, and reckless driving.
Could this be a hate crime?
As prosecutors sift through evidence, they're weighing if Florida's hate crime laws might come in. Is this about striking fear in LGBTQ+ runners or was he truly aiming harm? The community ponders.
"It's hard truth. He could have hit someone and not cared," reflected Galindo.
While this incident has shaken West Palm Beach's LGBTQ+ community, it hasn't broken them. It underlines continual threats they face, yet strengthens their call towards unity and vigilance.
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