One week after an SUV charged into West Palm Beach’s LGBTQ running club, Night Runners WPB returned to Howard Park with the largest turnout in the group’s history. 

About 80 runners showed up Monday night, a show of strength and solidarity after the Nov. 25 incident, in which police say a driver made multiple attempts to strike members of the club before fleeing the scene. No one was injured.

“This is what community looks like,” said Roger Jackson, the group’s president, as the run began, emphasizing that the club would not be intimidated or scared away.

For many members, the overwhelming turnout was emotional.

“We had 80 runners, breaking our record by quite a few,” runner Logan Graves said. “Almost everyone who was there last Monday returned, even new runners who had that as their first experience. I’m so proud of everyone for showing each other how strong we are together and what community can be.”

Newly obtained arrest records shed more light on the alleged motive.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the suspect — 43-year-old Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud — confessed to driving toward the runners and told detectives he became “offended and enraged” after being approached by a male member of the group. He claimed he believed the man was “making sexual advances toward him” and said he found the perceived interaction disrespectful.

Detectives noted that El Mahmoud initially expressed no remorse before later saying he was “sorry but not regretful.”

He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless driving. The case remains under review for a potential hate-crime enhancement. He remains in custody while the investigation continues. 

“I felt terrified,” said Rudolph Galindo, who founded the club. He said the driver came within two feet of hitting him. “He came flying through, going probably 120 miles per hour. If anybody had been out in that way, their life would have been over.”