A Colorado man, aged 47, has been sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison after attempting to run over two women he assumed were lesbians. The man, Vitalie Oprea, then purposefully collided his vehicle with their pickup truck, citing their public display of affection as his motive.

On Monday, Oprea entered a guilty plea for attempted first-degree murder with a violent crime enhancement. This plea resulted in a 20-year prison sentence, as announced by local authorities.

In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a number of other charges. These included an additional attempted murder charge, six counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of vehicle theft, and one count of criminal mischief.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office detailed the events in a press release. The incident began on February 19, 2023, when Oprea took his parents’ car without their consent. While driving near the intersection of East Arapahoe Road and South Liverpool Street, about 20 miles southeast of Denver, he noticed “two women standing on a street corner” whom he assumed were lesbians.

Witnesses reported that Oprea initially shouted at the women and made offensive gestures. He then executed a U-turn on Arapahoe Road, driving against traffic towards the women in a threatening manner.

Fearing for their safety, the victims ran from the sidewalk onto a grassy area near a local high school. But that did not stop Oprea.

“Witnesses reported Oprea drove over a curb, onto a sidewalk, and across the grassy area toward the women,” the release states. “The women were eventually able to get into a Ram pickup truck, which Oprea then rammed with his vehicle. Oprea exited his car, approached the passenger side of the truck, kicked the vehicle, opened the door, and attempted to pull one of the women out.”

After ramming the women’s pickup truck, Oprea fled the area on foot. He was located and taken into custody later that day.

The women told investigators they did not know their attacker, but feared for their lives and believed he was “attempting to run them over and kill them.”

The victims’ belief was buttressed by Oprea, who admitted to the arresting officers that he was trying to kill the victims.

“I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them,” he said, according to the news release.

Deputy District Attorney Lauren Agee released the following statement:

“These women did nothing to provoke this violence,” she said. “They were targeted, chased, and left fearing for their lives. Our office takes hate-motivated violence extremely seriously, and attacks rooted in hate will be met with accountability and significant consequences.”