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A California man has been arrested this week, accused of deliberately driving his vehicle into a group of children and parents who were participating in a youth baseball fundraiser outside a grocery store in Truckee.
Jonathan Maurer, aged 49, is facing eight charges of attempted murder along with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon, accompanied by several sentencing enhancements, as reported by the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Jesse Wilson commented on the case, stating, “The notion that this act was intentional and targeted at children is difficult to fathom. Our office is committed to working through the criminal justice process. If the evidence supports the charges, we will strive to hold this individual accountable to the fullest extent of the law, send a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable, and ensure public safety.”
As reported by KOVR, the 12U Tahoe Titans were engaged in a fundraising event outside a Safeway store, aiming to gather funds for an upcoming trip to Cooperstown All Star Village in New York, when Maurer allegedly drove his truck into their gathering.
Catcher Rowan Grant shared his experience with the station, saying, “I remember hearing the truck just moments before it hit me. When it struck, I initially felt a slight sensation, then the pain hit. I was thrown away from the impact.”
Three players, three parents, and a player’s sibling were injured.
Jamie DeWit, a parent of one of the players, said the moments leading up to the attack were odd.
“He put a cigarette out on one of our signs, then came back out, gave us a weird look, mumbled something under his breath and walked away,” DeWit said. “The next thing I knew, myself and our boys were being pulled out of rubble.”
Court records show that Maurer has a lengthy criminal history.