Eight people mowed down by a driver in Silicon Valley may have been targeted because the driver thought they were Muslim, reports CBS5.
Joel Peoples faces eight counts of attempted murder.
“Based on our investigation, new evidence shows that the defendant intentionally targeted victims based on their race and his belief that they were of the Muslim faith,” said Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Chief Phan S. Ngo . “We understand that you will have many questions based on this announcement. However, we will not be releasing further information for now.”
Peoples is an Iraq War veteran who according to his defense attorney suffers from a mental disorder.
No decision has been made about whether he will face hate crime charges.
“There’s no hate crime allegation charge at this point in time for one reason only, the matter is still being investigated,” Jay Boyarsky, the Santa Clara County chief assistant district attorney, said to CNN.
According to CBS5, the most seriously injured is 13-year-old Dhriti Doe, who suffered “inter cranial bleed, brain swelling, with left side of skull removed to relieve pressure, pelvic fracture, critical condition and life threatening.”
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