A 20-year-old Californian woman has been charged with the murder of a man she accused of trying to run over a cat.
The incident took place in Santa Ana, California, around 8.23 pm on Sept. 25.
Forty-three-year-old Victor Anthony Luis died on the scene after Hannah Star Esser hit him with her car.
Esser has been charged with one felony count of murder. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life if convicted, said a Sept. 28 statement from the Orange County District Attorney.
Esser is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 13 at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center in Westminster. She is being held on $1 million bail.
The district attorney said that Esser was arguing with Luis who she believed was trying to run over a cat in the street.
Esser got out of her car and recorded the confrontation, in which profanity can be heard, according to police. Luis also got out of his car.
Esser allegedly got back into her car, and instead of driving away, she drove directly onto Luis and has been accused of hitting him on purpose with the right front part of her car.
The district attorney said that Luis was launched up onto the hood and windshield and flipped several times before he landed in the street. Luis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kimberly Edds, a district attorney’s office spokesperson, said it was then unclear if a cat was involved in the incident, reported AP.
Luis was a father with five children, all daughters, the report added.
“This action showed a complete disregard for human life,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will ensure that this random act of violence targeting a stranger will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
