When Rudolph Galindo founded the West Palm Beach LGBTQ running club, he always feared a moment like this might come. He hoped he was wrong. On Monday night, he wasn’t.

Around 8 p.m., as more than 40 members of Night Runners WPB gathered at Howard Park for their twice-weekly meetup, a man in an SUV accelerated toward them, triggering chaos and fear.

“I felt terrified,” Galindo said. “I realized before everybody else what was happening. And so I jumped out of the way.” 

He said the driver came within two feet of hitting him. 

“My concern went to the group. We had about 40 people at the run and this fear of anybody getting hurt, me included.”

According to the West Palm Beach Police Department, the alleged driver — 43-year-old Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud — made multiple attempts to strike the group, driving recklessly through the parking lot, onto sidewalks, into grass, and up an embankment before fleeing. 

The driver did not strike any members of the group and there were no reported injuries. 

Officers arrested him soon after in a downtown garage, where they say he was removing the SUV’s license plate. Police have charged him with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless driving, with the case under review for a potential hate-crime enhancement.

"I went over to ask him if he was part of the run group, and he seemed very irritated that I asked that question, and he grumbled and said no," Galindo said.

Moments later, the man got back into his Bronco, floored the accelerator in reverse, then sped forward toward a cluster of runners. That’s when people started yelling, “Get behind the trees!”

“He came flying through, going probably 120 miles per hour,” Galindo said, describing the second pass. “If anybody had been out in that way, their life would have been over.”

Barry Lowenthal described the scene the same way — sudden, violent, and surreal.

“All of us ran out of the parking area, up onto the grass,” he said. “A lot of us went behind a tree because we just didn’t know where he was going to come and what he was going to do. We were all physically threatened. We were all attacked.”

One mother grabbed her 2-year-old and ran, leaving the stroller behind in the middle of the lot.

Logan Graves, another runner, said the moment the attack happened, instinct took over.

“When the driver committed and it became clear that this was really happening we saw a lot of our community react like their own family was in danger,” he said. “I pulled in whoever was closest to me to the furthest tree, new runners I hadn’t even met yet.”

Even after the panic, Graves said one detail stuck with him: “A runner I checked in on even after all that, still pointed to the sky and mentioned how beautiful the moon was.”

Barry agrees the behavior felt targeted.

“I really felt this was some sort of like, hate crime,” he said. “You don’t show up to a group like that by accident. You have to know it’s there.”

Every member of Night Runners WPB interviewed described the same dual feeling — terror in the moment, and overwhelming gratitude for how the group protected one another.

“People yelling at others to get behind the trees, making sure everybody was safe,” Galindo said. “It was heartwarming to see the group really come together and care about each other.”

Logan echoed that sentiment. “This was an event that really emphasized how strong we are together. No injuries. Everyone accounted for. Checking in, making jokes, trying to understand.”

It’s unclear what may have prompted the attack. According to the police report, the driver “became upset over a perceived comment by a male member of the running club, leading to his agitation and subsequent actions.” Galindo did speak with the driver beforehand, but only asked if he was there for the running group. 

Galindo said he feels reassured by the fast police response and support from the city, but knows some runners may need time to feel safe again. 

“My fear is [...] what does that mean for the group and people feeling safe and feeling like we’re attacked, and how do we reassure them that we’re dedicated to a safe space?”

Night Runners WPB President Roger Jackson added: “Safety, Safety, Safety is what we always say at Night Runners WPB. That will continue to be our priority as we show our pride and keep running and walking as a community in a city we love. Let’s Go!!”

Galindo hopes to bring the community together for next Monday’s run — a visible show of unity, resilience, and refusal to let fear define their space.

“I’m going to work with the group to try and bring everyone in so we show our strength in numbers.”