New Hate Crime Charge In LGBTQ Runners Case

West Palm Beach’s CBS affiliate reports:

A 43-year-old man accused of trying to ram his Ford Bronco into LGBTQ+ runners at Howard Park is now facing felony charges with a hate crime enhancement, according to Palm Beach County prosecutors.

On the evening of November 24, members of Night Runners WPB — a local LGBTQ+ running club — gathered at Howard Park, near the Palm Beach County Convention Center, for their scheduled 8 p.m. run. According to the West Palm Beach Police Department, Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud “purposely drove his car towards the victims and the group of people”.

The vehicle traversed a parking lot, drove onto the sidewalk, then through the grass before nearly striking the group. One runner described being “in shock,” saying the experience “seemed like it wasn’t real, and my reaction was just fear.”

Read the full article. Earlier this month it was reported that Mahmoud, who remains jailed without bond, may present a “gay panic” defense, which is legal in Florida but banned in 20 states and Washington DC.

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