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Man arrested after trying to run over Muslim residents, threatened to ‘shoot and bomb them’

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A California sex offender was arrested after allegedly trying to run down Muslim parkgoers and threatening to “shoot and bomb them,” police said.

Families gathered at the Heron Landing Park, in Rancho Cordova, reported that 33-year-old Robert Avery tried to run them over on Sunday evening while hurling racial slurs at them, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

Video footage shared by the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) shows Avery driving his vehicle near a seating area in the park where the families appeared to be enjoying a picnic.

A silver car with a broken side view mirror drives close to the area as an adult quickly lifts a kid out of the way. Avery is then seen forcing his car over curbs and foliage as he races down a walking path and out of the park.

Avery, a registered sex offender, was taken into custody.

Throughout the video, the families and children can be heard screaming in fear as several adults called 911 for help.


Robert Avery, 33, a registered sex offender, was arrested after being caught on video harassing a group of Muslim families at the Heron Landing Park, in Rancho Cordova, California.
Robert Avery, 33, a registered sex offender, was arrested after being caught on video harassing a group of Muslim families at the Heron Landing Park, in Rancho Cordova, California.
Sacramento Sheriff Department

Avery was filmed driving into a picnic area, where one adult lifted a child away from the path of the car.
Avery was filmed driving into a picnic area, where one adult lifted a child away from the path of the car.
CAIR-Sacramento

Sgt. Amar Gandhi commended the families’ quick thinking and recording of the incident, which police said led to Avery’s quick arrest.

“They were very brave. Instead of just folding and giving up… They got their phones out,” Gandhi said. “They were out there taking pictures.

“They got video and helped us ID that vehicle really quickly which led us back to that suspect.”


Photos and video taken by the families allowed police to identify the car as Avery's.
Photos and video taken by the families allowed police to identify the car as Avery’s.
Sacramento Sheriff Department

The sheriff’s office said Avery turned himself in Monday morning with the aid of his family, and he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, and a hate crime.

Police added that Avery was also accused of causing a disturbance earlier on Sunday at a nearby liquor store.

Officials noted that Avery could face additional charges if his status as a sex offender prohibited him from being near public parks.


After allegedly hurling racial slurs and threats at the residents, Avery drove off on a pedestrian walkway.
After allegedly hurling racial slurs and threats at the residents, Avery drove off on a pedestrian walkway.
CAIR-Sacramento

“We thank local law enforcement authorities for their swift action in taking the suspect into custody and urge federal authorities to consider bringing hate crime charges for this apparently bias-motivated attack on members of a minority community,” CAIR said in a statement.

A representative for Avery could not be immediately reached for comment.



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