A man is being charged with intentional homicide after allegedly deliberately running over and killing an elderly woman in San Francisco, United States.
The incident took place on April 13, 2026. On that occasion, Valentino Cash Amil, 30 years old, allegedly used his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan to intentionally attack Dannielle Spillman, 74, outside a gas station.
According to a report by People magazine, Amil had just finished refueling his car and was leaving the station to return to the street when his vehicle ended up blocking the sidewalk where Spillman was walking. Apparently, Spillman became upset with the situation and confronted the driver.
The two argued briefly before Spillman walked to the front of Amil’s car and “poured liquid” from a water bottle onto the vehicle’s hood. After that, Amil allegedly accelerated his vehicle and intentionally ran over the woman.
“According to eyewitnesses, Mr. Amil allegedly drove away after striking the victim and did not stop,” said the prosecutor’s office, citing court documents. Spillman was pronounced dead less than 10 minutes after paramedics arrived.
Amil was later arrested by the San Francisco Police Department. His bail was denied by Judge Lianne Dumas, citing the fact that he fled after the incident as the reason for the decision.
“The fact that the defendant […] stopped at the scene and then, even after observing the situation, chose to leave when there were reasonable alternatives also concerns me regarding the defendant’s ability to follow court orders and return to court for future proceedings,” she said, according to Mission Local.
On April 26, Amil pleaded not guilty to the charges. Amil’s defense attorney, Seth Morris, argued that his client acted in self-defense out of fear that Spillman would pour gasoline on the car in which he, his wife, and his two children were inside.
However, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins argued that the prosecution’s “view” of the evidence contradicts Morris’s self-defense claim, according to ABC 7.
“He knew what he had done. He knew he had run someone over, and he was afraid of submitting to authority,” said city prosecutor Edward Mario, according to Mission Local.
Amil is expected to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 6.
Photo: Instagram @real_guitars. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
