The driver accused of intentionally hitting a group of pedestrians in Northern California attacked people he believed were of the Muslim faith, police said.
New evidence shows that Isaiah Joel Peoples also targeted the crowd based on race, Sunnyvale, California, Police Chief Phan Ngo told reporters Friday. Ngo refused discuss the evidence or provide more details about the investigation. Peoples, 34, has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder for allegedly driving his vehicle into pedestrians in Sunnyvale earlier this week. If convicted, Peoples faces up to life in prison. The suspect briefly appeared in court Friday, wearing a prison jumpsuit and peering back at the audience several times.
Chuck Smith, an attorney representing Peoples, did not enter a plea and asked the judge to postponed his client's arraignment. He said Peoples is a religious man who is praying for the people who were injured. "Absolutely we are disputing that this was an intentional act and this is a case of mental disorder," he said. Peoples is due back in court on May 16. Hate crime charge could be forthcoming Jay Boyarsky, the Santa Clara County chief assistant district attorney, did not dismiss the possibility of officially considering the incident as a hate crime. The California man accused of intentionally driving into pedestrians has shown no remorse, police say The California man accused of intentionally driving into pedestrians has shown no remorse, police say "There's no hate crime allegation charge at this point in time for one reason only, the matter is still being investigated," he said. Boyarsky said Peoples targeted at least one or two people based on his "view" of what the victims' race or religion may have been. The prosecutor only described the new evidence as "very appalling and disturbing." Suspect is an army veteran headed to Bible study Peoples was on his way to his Bible study group after picking up some food on Tuesday, according to investigators, when police said he ran over a group of people walking on a sidewalk. The victims, men and women, ranged in age from 9 to 52. At least one of them, a 13-year-old girl, remains hospitalized Friday in critical condition, police said.
Witnesses told investigators that after the incident, Peoples could be heard saying something akin to thanking God or Jesus, Ngo said. But he didn't exhibit that behavior when he was arrested, Ngo said. Peoples, a Sunnyvale resident who was born in San Francisco, was arrested at the scene of the crash. Police said he served in the Army between 2004 and 2006, and was honorably discharged. He then served in the Army reserve until 2008. He has been working as a Department of Defense contractor as a finance auditor. Sunnyvale is about 9 miles west of San Jose, California.
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people in this country are so damn weird. got people who dislike muslims so much....that they will commit a muslim extremist style attack?
what?
swear christians and muslims are way more alike than they are different. the only thing that saves us from christian fundamentalism here in the US is our constitution, and even then its only saving us from so much. so thankful that the founding fathers made sure we were a secular government, and not some theocratic system like most of the middle east.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
im waiting on someone to pull the race card. it will be clear evidence they didnt bother clicking on the link.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
No, I said when people other than Christians are being killed by right wing extremists. Pete Buttigieg is a Democrat and he's a Christian. There are a lot of Christians who do not share the views of the right wing. A lot of them are Republicans too.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I just find it odd that when people are slaughtered by right wing extremists you, "have no comment on the story. I didn't even read the story and have no opinion on it".
But on something like how someone responds to it, which is trivial in comparison, you seem to often have an opinion on it.
I guess it's all about priorities.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I think as a moderator you have to keep your disciplinary actions within the context of the rules. I've never been a moderator here but have been on other boards. At least that's how it's worked in other places. Not everything you may find offensive is against the rules.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Then why are so many libs here atheist if you think he was one of your ilk?
The comment above about Jesus being a liberal was facetious. (not serious)
Really, how so? I'm fairly certain the bible portrays a Jesus that cared for the weaker among us; the poor, the infirmed, and the outcast. He fed people with his last bit of food. He spread a message of love and forgiveness. He welcomed the stranger, accepted those from other beliefs, and valued those considered lower class or of no worth. He seemed to be a firm believer in helping those who could not help themselves, lifting up the oppressed or downtrodden, and enjoyed a nomadic commune style life with a touch of welfare and socialism inside a capitalistic sub society under imperial rule.
He also disliked the 1% of the time. He had it out with the money changers in the temple. Then there is the whole it's harder for a rich man to enter heaven thing. And even in the 'give unto ceasar' bit there is the whole do what you must to live among these evil men but never let them take from you who you are, your faith, or the loving ways he and god want them to follow...
Never read anything about Jesus wanting to give tax breaks to the rich, but gathering items or money from the community to help others or the cause was something he could get behind. This all sounds pretty liberal to me.
Heck, the entire idea of Christian church is really just a form of socialism. Priest and Nuns don't punch a clock working for the man or run a capitalist business. Nope, they tax the parishioners with tithes, then use the wealth of the church to help those less fortunate, in need, or who can not do for themselves.
The church also operates off this money and uses it to grow and prosper...
Really, how so? I'm fairly certain the bible portrays a Jesus that cared for the weaker among us; the poor, the infirmed, and the outcast. He fed people with his last bit of food. He spread a message of love and forgiveness. He welcomed the stranger, accepted those from other beliefs, and valued those considered lower class or of no worth. He seemed to be a firm believer in helping those who could not help themselves, lifting up the oppressed or downtrodden, and enjoyed a nomadic commune style life with a touch of welfare and socialism inside a capitalistic sub society under imperial rule.
He also disliked the 1% of the time. He had it out with the money changers in the temple. Then there is the whole it's harder for a rich man to enter heaven thing. And even in the 'give unto ceasar' bit there is the whole do what you must to live among these evil men but never let them take from you who you are, your faith, or the loving ways he and god want them to follow...
Never read anything about Jesus wanting to give tax breaks to the rich, but gathering items or money from the community to help others or the cause was something he could get behind. This all sounds pretty liberal to me.
Heck, the entire idea of Christian church is really just a form of socialism. Priest and Nuns don't punch a clock working for the man or run a capitalist business. Nope, they tax the parishioners with tithes, then use the wealth of the church to help those less fortunate, in need, or who can not do for themselves.
The church also operates off this money and uses it to grow and prosper...
Liberal or socialist... take your pick.
Jesus was pretty radically liberal for his time.. he also bared almost no resemblance to modern democrats... the single biggest problem with your whole analogy is that Jesus, not one time, expected the government to step up and MANDATE that any of this happen.. he expected PEOPLE to step up, even in defiance of the government, and do it themselves, not step up and VOTE for somebody (or a group of those evil men you mentioned) to do it for them.
Anybody who thinks Jesus would sink so low as to identify with either of the pathetic political parties we have in this country is delusional.
Use all of the biblical references you want, Jesus would have despised democrats every bit as much as he would have despised most republicans.
This type of stuff will never end. As long as Muslims believe that everyone must be converted or be killed, this sick game of tit for tat will continue forever.
I've never met a Muslim that wasn't nice. I've never met a devout Christian who wasn't nice.
I never met a Christian or Jew that thinks convert or die or is intent on eradicating other religions from earth such as the tenants of Islam...Its not tit for tat its either you agree or disagree
this is why i dislike all religions, at least the system.
i got 3 main religions in the world that originated from the same damn book, yet they all beefing with each other. makes no damn sense.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
With the passive support of government looking the other way and allowing it to happen.
Which, now that I think about it, is also very close to what we have today.. a bunch of zealots on every issue trying to figuratively nail the opposition to the cross... while politicians generally remain out of the fray and wash their hands of it allowing it to happen.
