Stanford University Arab Muslim Student Victim of Hit-and-Run; Incident Investigated as Potential Hate Crime

Suspect described as white male in his mid-20s, still at large; victim reports previous animosity from attacker amid rising antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents on campuses across U.S. following Israel-Hamas conflict.

An Arab Muslim student at Stanford University was the victim of a hit-and-run incident on the university campus. The suspected crime took place on November 3, 2023. The incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime, with the driver making eye contact, accelerating, and striking the student before leaving the scene screaming offensive words at him.
The suspect, described as a white male in his mid-20s, was driving a black SUV with a tire mounted on the back. The student reported having seen the same person demonstrating animosity towards his community prior to the incident.
The incident comes amid rising tensions on campuses across the U.S. stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. Recently, students at Stanford started a sit-in asking the administration to condemn Israel's siege of Gaza and provide resources for Palestinian students.
The victim, named Abdulwahab Omira, shared a message from his hospital bed, calling for kindness, love, and understanding in response to the increasing hatred and prejudice. He also criticized the university's response time to the incident and their communication about it.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident due to its jurisdiction of all injury traffic incidents on campus. The university's administration has condemned the violence and further increased security at key locations on campus following the incident.