Woman, 20, Ran Over Man She Thought Was Trying To Kill Cat, Police Say

WESTMINSTER, CA — A 20-year-old woman is facing a murder charge for running down a man in Cypress who she believed was trying to kill a cat with his car Sunday night, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Hannah Star Esser was charged Tuesday with one count of murder, authorities say. She faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Esser is accused of killing 43-year-old Luis Anthony Victor on Sunday night in the 9700 block of Graham Street, OCDA Spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said.

Esser and Luis reportedly got into a conflict at around 8:20 p.m. that night, with Esser believing that Victor was trying to run over a cat. Both people got out of their cars and Esser began to record the confrontation on her phone, Edds said.

She accused Victor of trying to run over the cat in the video, she said. Investigators have not determined whether Victor was deliberately trying to run over the cat.

According to the district attorney's office, Esser then got back into her Honda Civic, drove to the end of the cul-de-sac, turned around and ran over Victor as he stood outside of his vehicle. She then called police and was arrested, Edds said.

Esser was scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 13 in the West Justice Center in Westminster. She was being held on $1 million bail.

No further information was immediately available.

City News Service contributed to this article.