California woman charged with murder for running over man she thought was trying to hit cat

A California woman has been charged with murder for ramming her vehicle into a man she accused of trying to run over a cat attempting to cross the street.

Hannah Star Esser was hit with a count of murder in the death of 43-year-old Victor Anthony Luis, the Orange County prosecutor’s office said Wednesday. She’s being held on $1 million bail.

Prosecutors said Esser confronted Luis on Sunday in Cypress, a Southern California suburb southeast of Los Angeles. She believed at the time that Luis was trying to run down a cat, so she emerged from her vehicle enraged, already hurling profanities at the man, who also exited his vehicle.

After a brief argument, Esser returned to her car, still shouting at Luis, and started to drive away. Instead of continuing on her commute though, prosecutors said she made a 3-point turn and drove back towards Luis. She then made a U-turn and drove directly at Luis, launching him onto the hood and the windshield and flipping him over several times before he ultimately landed in the street.

Luis was pronounced dead on the scene a short time later.

“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.”