Man narrowly escapes car attack at Scripps Ranch Pride fence in alleged hate crime

A man who helps maintain the Scripps Ranch Pride fence narrowly escaped serious injury Saturday night after a driver allegedly targeted him in what police are investigating as a hate crime.

Stephen Gunter was checking on rainbow lights that had been vandalized around 11 p.m. when he noticed a Toyota Prius following him. Cell phone video captured the frightening moments as the vehicle drove over the curb directly toward Gunter, forcing him to jump over his fence to avoid being hit.

The video shows the car backing up and then driving forward again. A large rock stopped the vehicle during the second attempt, allowing Gunter time to record the license plate before the driver fled.

Gunter said he was on the phone with 911 when the car returned, again mounting the curb and narrowly missing him. The driver then exited the vehicle, unplugged the Pride lights, tossed them into the street, made racially offensive gestures and remarks, and ran over the lights before leaving.

“I was shaking,” Gunter said. “When the car started coming toward me, I knew he wanted to hit me.”

Police arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Parada less than an hour later. He was booked on hate crime and assault charges.

The Pride fence has been vandalized more than 20 times since it was first installed, with flags torn down and the display targeted with paint, eggs, and other debris. This latest incident marked a troubling escalation to violence, leaving tire marks on the sidewalk.

Despite the repeated attacks, Gunter and the Scripps Ranch Pride Council plan to continue displaying Pride-themed art installations in the coming months, reaffirming their commitment to visibility and acceptance.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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