Veteran Accused of Plowing Into Crowd Was on Way to Bible Study

A former Army sharpshooter with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder plowed his car at high speed into a group of pedestrians in a Silicon Valley suburb, injuring eight people, then told authorities that he intentionally hit them, police said. Isaiah Joel Peoples, 34, gave no indication why he targeted the group in Sunnyvale, California, authorities said. He was being held Thursday on eight counts of attempted murder. Four of the pedestrians remained hospitalized, including a 13-year-old girl who was in critical condition. Peoples was scheduled to appear in court Friday, the AP reports. A witness said he watched in horror as the car sped through a crosswalk in a shopping area Tuesday evening and bodies went flying. It was a warm night, around dinnertime, and people were out in cafes and restaurants.

"I saw this woman fly through the air right in front of me. She flipped upside down and then fell right in front of my car," Don Draper said. He marched over to Peoples' car, which had swerved onto a sidewalk and crashed into a tree. He said Peoples did not appear drunk but looked dazed and was mumbling over and over, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus." Though the FBI is assisting in the investigation, there is no evidence linking Peoples to any terrorist organization and, so far, no evidence of a federal crime, said Sunnyvale Police Chief Phan Ngo, who said Peoples had picked up food and was on his way to deliver it to his Bible study group. "When we took him into custody, he did not behave in any manner that would be considered bizarre," Ngo said. "He has not shown any remorse." (Click for more, including what Peoples' mom has to say.)