Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
"Accidents"

Update From NC: Shooting a Cyclist in the Head Is Not Attempted Murder

A grand jury in Asheville, North Carolina has reduced the charge against a motorist who allegedly shot a cyclist in the head from attempted first-degree murder to felony assault.

diez.jpgCharles Diez

According
to reports, on July 26, Alan Simons was shot by Charles Diez after a
confontation along a busy road. The shooting took place in front of
Simons' wife and 3-year-old kid. Diez was reportedly angered that
Simons was riding a bike with his child seated behind him. Simons was
wearing his bike helmet at the time. Miraculously, the bullet missed
his head.

Wheras Diez originally faced up to 13 years in prison, felony assault carries a penalty of around two years. Reports the weekly Mountain Xpress:

Grand
juries deliberate in secret, and District Attorney Ron Moore submitted
both the assault and attempted-murder charges. He told Xpress that he doesn’t know why the grand jury rejected the murder charge.

We don't either, but we can guess

(h/t Cookster)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Uh Oh! Dueling Alignments Could Throw Torrance Metro Rail Extension into Limbo

Metro's plan for a four-mile light rail extension from Redondo Beach to Torrance could get a lot more difficult, and more expensive

January 20, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines

ICE, DIY crosswalks, Torrance rail, Sepulveda rail, Metro, Pasadena, car-nage, and more

January 20, 2026

Santa Monica Parking Enforcement Vehicles to Use AI Cameras to Ticket Bike Lane Violations

Similar to on-bus AI cameras for bus lanes, but with two new wrinkles: cameras will be on city cars, and will detect bike lane blockers

January 16, 2026

Friday’s Headlines

ICE, Metro vs. SB79, Olympics, Santa Monica parking, homelessness, Koreatown, Santa Clarita, Malibu, car-nage, and more

January 16, 2026

Monrovia’s ‘Haiku Park’ is Now Open

Satoru Tsuneishi Park honors the acclaimed poet once incarcerated in an internment camp.

January 15, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines

LAPD, potholes, green bike lanes, Metro policing, L.A. River, car-nage, and more

January 15, 2026
See all posts