A Florida driver, Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, 43, has been arrested after allegedly trying to strike members of an LGBTQ running club with his vehicle at a local park. The West Palm Beach Police Department confirmed that El Mahmoud attempted to hit the runners, making multiple passes and driving recklessly before fleeing.
According to witnesses, including Rudolph Galindo, who was part of the running group, El Mahmoud became upset after being approached by one of the male members. He allegedly made a second attempt to strike the runners, driving his Ford Bronco SUV towards them with his foot pressed down on the gas pedal.
Galindo described the incident as "traumatic" and said that he had to yell at the other runners to clear out of the parking lot, hiding behind trees for safety. He estimated that El Mahmoud's vehicle could have been traveling at speeds of 60-80 mph before fleeing eastbound.
Police arrived on the scene after responding to reports of a disturbance and met with members of Night Runners WPB, the group targeted by El Mahmoud. The suspect had become agitated over a perceived comment made by Galindo, according to police.
El Mahmoud was later found pulling into a parking garage where he tried to remove his license plate from his SUV. He was taken into custody shortly after and has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving. The charge for potential enhancement as a hate crime is also being reviewed.
El Mahmoud's next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, but the name of his public defender was not immediately available.
According to witnesses, including Rudolph Galindo, who was part of the running group, El Mahmoud became upset after being approached by one of the male members. He allegedly made a second attempt to strike the runners, driving his Ford Bronco SUV towards them with his foot pressed down on the gas pedal.
Galindo described the incident as "traumatic" and said that he had to yell at the other runners to clear out of the parking lot, hiding behind trees for safety. He estimated that El Mahmoud's vehicle could have been traveling at speeds of 60-80 mph before fleeing eastbound.
Police arrived on the scene after responding to reports of a disturbance and met with members of Night Runners WPB, the group targeted by El Mahmoud. The suspect had become agitated over a perceived comment made by Galindo, according to police.
El Mahmoud was later found pulling into a parking garage where he tried to remove his license plate from his SUV. He was taken into custody shortly after and has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving. The charge for potential enhancement as a hate crime is also being reviewed.
El Mahmoud's next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, but the name of his public defender was not immediately available.
I don't get why people still can't just let others be... like, what's wrong with running clubs? They're just a group of people who like to run together, right? 
And some guy tries to kill them because they made him mad over something he misinterpreted? It's just not right. 
The fact that this guy was driving recklessly and trying to hit people with his car is just ridiculous. I mean, what if the runners had been kids or seniors? What would have happened then? 
This whole thing just shows how violent some people can be when they get angry. And now he's facing charges... hopefully justice will be served 
. And they're saying he became agitated because of a comment? Come on, that's like saying the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding 
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. Like, I get it, we need to take these things seriously, but this feels like an easy way for them to sweep up another hate-filled individual under the rug. It's all about covering their own behinds and not rocking the boat, you know? 
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. But what's even more disturbing is the fact that this incident might be considered a hate crime 
. The LGBTQ community already faces so much prejudice and marginalization, and this kind of violence is just heartbreaking 
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. It highlights the need for education and empathy towards different communities and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect 
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. like, what if one of those runners got hit? 
. The police did a good job showing up quickly and taking him into custody tho 
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Can you believe this guy? Like, what's wrong with getting into a running club and just... not liking it? 
and now he's facing serious charges - hopefully he gets the sentence he deserves 
this incident is utterly shocking & disturbing, highlighting the need for increased vigilance & support for marginalized communities, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. The suspect's egregious actions are a stark reminder of the dangers of hate-fueled rhetoric & actions, which can have devastating consequences for individuals & groups targeted by such bigotry 
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Like, what's wrong with these people? Did he think he'd win a prize for most aggressive driver of the week? 
Anyway, glad the runners are safe and that El Mahmoud is behind bars where he belongs. Hopefully, he'll think twice before trying to drive over some innocent people again. The universe has a funny way of balancing things out, right? 
and now he's facing charges for attempted murder and reckless driving... about time someone held him accountable for his actions! 
And let's not forget, the suspect was also charged with reckless driving, which shows that law enforcement is taking this kind of thing very seriously.
I mean, we're supposed to be a country that values equality and diversity, but sometimes it feels like we're still struggling with those issues. 
We need to do better, people! 