Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Attempting to Strike LGBTQ+ Running Group with SUV in West Palm Beach

On the evening of Monday, November 24, 2025, members of Night Runners WPB gathered at Howard Park in West Palm Beach for their regularly scheduled run. The club, which organizes walks and runs every Monday and Thursday night, had assembled approximately 40 people for the event when a confrontation escalated into a dangerous vehicle attack.

According to witness accounts and police reports, the incident began when Rudolph Galindo, 40, a club founder and LGBTQ+ Liaison for the City of West Palm Beach, approached a man in the parking lot to ask if he was there to join the running group. Galindo's simple question appeared to trigger an aggressive response. The man, later identified as Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, told Galindo that the question "bothered" him.

What happened next was shocking. El Mahmoud got into his Ford Bronco SUV and immediately began accelerating in reverse directly toward Galindo in the parking lot. Galindo described the terrifying moment to ABC News, recounting that the vehicle appeared to be traveling at an estimated speed of 60 to 80 miles per hour. Recognizing the immediate danger, Galindo shouted a warning to other club members to clear the parking lot. Many runners scrambled for cover, hiding behind trees to escape the oncoming vehicle.

Rather than stopping after the initial pass, El Mahmoud made multiple additional attempts to strike the group. According to the West Palm Beach Police Department press release, after accelerating toward the runners a second time, he "drove recklessly along sidewalks, through grass, and up an embankment before fleeing eastbound onto Okeechobee Boulevard. " Cell phone footage captured the vehicle barreling through Howard Park at high speed, creating a harrowing record of the attack.

West Palm Beach Police responded to the scene at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Monday evening. Shortly after arriving, officers located a vehicle matching the suspect's description pulling into a parking garage. Police observed the driver attempting to remove the license plate from the vehicle—an action consistent with an attempt to conceal evidence or evade identification. The individual was identified as Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud and was taken into custody.

El Mahmoud has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count of reckless driving. The arrest report indicates that El Mahmoud "willingly, knowingly and intelligently" attempted to run over the group. Significantly, authorities are reviewing the incident to determine whether it meets Florida's hate crime criteria, which would allow for enhanced charges. El Mahmoud is being held without bond.

According to the police investigation, El Mahmoud had become "upset over a perceived comment by a male member of the running club, leading to his agitation and subsequent actions. " This detail raises questions about what specific comment may have triggered the violent response, though no further details have been disclosed publicly.

For Rudolph Galindo and other members of Night Runners WPB, the experience was deeply traumatic. Galindo described the moment to CBS News, stating: "It was a shock. I was in shock while it was happening. " The incident has raised serious concerns about safety within the LGBTQ+ community and the vulnerability of public gatherings.

Galindo expressed his worry about the broader implications for the running club and the community it serves. "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? "he told WPBF. This statement reflects the real psychological impact such incidents have on LGBTQ+ communities, where members already navigate heightened concerns about safety and acceptance in public spaces.

Despite the trauma, Galindo demonstrated resilience and commitment to the community. He announced plans to organize a special run on Monday to show unity among club members and demonstrate that the group would not be intimidated or deterred from gathering. This response reflects the broader strength and solidarity often demonstrated by LGBTQ+ communities in the face of violence or discrimination.

About Night Runners WPB

Night Runners WPB is a community organization dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ+ individuals to exercise and build community through running and walking activities. The group holds regular events every Monday and Thursday evening at Howard Park in West Palm Beach. With approximately 40 members gathering for this particular event, the club has clearly built a meaningful following within the local LGBTQ+ community.

Rudolph Galindo's role as both a club founder and the LGBTQ+ Liaison for the City of West Palm Beach highlights the club's integration into the broader municipal community and its recognition as an important resource for LGBTQ+ residents. His position suggests that city officials recognize the value of such organizations in promoting health, wellness, and community cohesion among LGBTQ+ populations.

This incident occurs within a context of ongoing concerns about violence targeting LGBTQ+ communities. While specific statistics about attacks on LGBTQ+ running groups are limited, the broader landscape of hate crimes and violence targeting LGBTQ+ individuals remains a significant concern for advocacy organizations and law enforcement agencies nationwide. The incident in West Palm Beach underscores the reality that threats to LGBTQ+ safety can emerge in unexpected contexts, even during routine community activities like running clubs.

The potential hate crime designation being considered by authorities reflects the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating the incident. Hate crime charges, when applicable, serve both as a recognition of the targeted nature of an attack and as a means of imposing enhanced penalties that reflect the severity of crimes motivated by bias.

As of November 28, 2025, Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud remains in custody without bond, awaiting further legal proceedings. The investigation into whether the incident meets Florida's hate crime criteria continues. The charges of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and reckless driving carry serious legal consequences, and the outcome of the case will likely have significant implications for both El Mahmoud and the broader conversation about safety for LGBTQ+ communities in public spaces.