A California woman has been charged with killing a man by ramming her vehicle into his car after she allegedly witnessed him try to run over a cat.
Hannah Star Esser, 20, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Victor Anthony Luis, 43. She is currently being held on $1 million bail and faces a sentence of 25 years to life if convicted, according to a statement from the Orange County prosecutor’s office.
The event unfolded on September 25 at 8:23 p.m. in the 9700 block of Graham Street in Cypress. Esser reportedly first got out of her car to confront Luis after she claimed she witnessed him try and run over a feline in the street. She even had her phone out to record the whole exchange, which included profanity being hurled at Victor, who got out of his car to engage with Esser.
Esser ultimately returned to her vehicle while arguing with Victor, and at first, began to drive off before spontaneously making a three-point turn and driving straight at him. Victor slammed into the “right front of her car,” according to the press release, and “launched up onto the hood and windshield and flipped several times before he landed in the street.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Esser is set to be arraigned on October 13 at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center.
“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.”’
Per CBS News, Luis’s family issued a separate statement on Wednesday, saying he was killed right in front of his apartment building, and that he was a father of five daughters. He was going to be a grandfather in the fall, and “died in his only brother’s arms,” the statement read.
“This senseless act of violence has robbed the world of a bright light who will never be forgotten,” it said, adding that a GoFundMe campaign has been created by his sister to help pay for the funeral.
Kimberly Edds, spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, told the news outlet it was not “immediately clear whether a cat was actually involved.”
