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West Palm Beach Man Arrested in Alleged SUV Attack on LGBTQ Running Club

Prosecutors are weighing a hate-crime enhancement based on accounts that the driver made repeated attempts to hit runners.

Overview

  • Police identified the suspect as Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, 43, accused of accelerating a Ford Bronco at Night Runners WPB in Howard Park.
  • Witnesses and video show the vehicle hopped a curb, drove through grass and onto Okeechobee Boulevard before fleeing the area.
  • Officers say they found the SUV in a downtown parking garage, observed the suspect removing the license plate, and took him into custody without incident.
  • El Mahmoud faces two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving, and no injuries were reported.
  • Authorities say the confrontation followed a perceived comment by a runner, and El Mahmoud is due in court Wednesday as prosecutors review a potential hate-crime enhancement.