People v. Maura CA2/2

BACKGROUND

I. The People’s Evidence

On March 11, 2022, at about 2:50 a.m., a Kia Soul drove through a red light at the intersection of La Brea and

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. 2 There was no count 2.

2 Washington Boulevard and collided with a Mercedes Benz occupied by Jonah Rousseau (Rousseau) and Anthony Lanford (Lanford). Rousseau and Lanford did not see the driver of the Kia. As a result of the collision, Rousseau experienced some neck and back pain. Lanford suffered back pain, leg injuries, and scratches. Tyler Clark (Clark) witnessed the collision. Clark identified defendant as the driver of the Kia. Following the crash, defendant exited the vehicle and ran. Seth Jones (Jones) also saw defendant flee from the scene of the collision. Defendant ran past Jones, looked at him, and pulled out a knife. Jones saw Justin Dumas (Dumas) chase defendant. Jones told Dumas, “‘He has a knife.’” Dumas, who was wearing earbuds, continued running after defendant and eventually caught up with him. According to Jones, defendant and Dumas “squared off and started fighting.” “It was an automatic fight,” but Jones was unable to…