Executive Summary
- Suspect Arrested: West Palm Beach police arrested a 43-year-old man accused of trying to run over members of an LGBTQ+ running club.
- Incident Details: Witnesses reported the driver drove onto sidewalks and grass while making multiple passes at the group.
- Potential Enhancements: Officials are reviewing the case to determine if Florida’s hate crime statute applies to the charges.
- Attempt to Flee: Police allege the suspect was found in a parking garage attempting to remove his vehicle’s license plate.
Authorities in West Palm Beach, Florida, have arrested a 43-year-old motorist accused of intentionally attempting to strike members of a local LGBTQ+ running organization with his vehicle on Monday night. The West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) identified the suspect as Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, who was taken into custody facing multiple felony charges.
According to a press release issued by the WPBPD, the incident involved the “Night Runners WPB” group, which had approximately 40 members present at the time. Police state that the suspect became agitated following a verbal exchange with a member of the group. Witnesses reported that El Mahmoud subsequently made multiple aggressive passes with his Ford Bronco, driving onto sidewalks, grass, and an embankment in an apparent attempt to hit the runners.
Rudolph Galindo, the treasurer of the running club, provided an account to ABC News, stating that the suspect accelerated in reverse directly toward him while he was standing in a parking lot. Witnesses told investigators that they were forced to take cover behind trees as the vehicle approached at high speed. The driver reportedly fled the scene via Okeechobee Boulevard following the confrontation.
Law enforcement officers located a vehicle matching the witnesses’ description in a downtown parking garage shortly after the incident. According to the police report, officers observed El Mahmoud attempting to remove the license plate from the SUV before detaining him without incident.
Procedural Next Steps
El Mahmoud has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving. Authorities are currently conducting a legal review to determine if the charges qualify for enhancement under Florida’s hate crime statute, given the demographic of the targeted group. As the investigation proceeds to the judicial phase, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
