Louie Ahmad Qutami, a convicted felon from Menifee, faces charges of hit-and-run resulting in great bodily injury and other offenses after allegedly striking and seriously injuring a 6-year-old boy outside a Perris church.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested Qutami last Friday following a two-week investigation. Alongside the hit-and-run charge, he faces probation violations and driving with a revoked license due to a prior drunk driving conviction.
Qutami, currently held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, was scheduled for an initial court appearance at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at a crosswalk near St. James Catholic Church on West Third Street. Qutami, allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, struck a parked vehicle while fleeing the scene, subsequently hitting the child as he fled southbound.
The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, sustained severe life-threatening injuries and was transported to Riverside University Medical Center for treatment. Fortunately, his family members were unharmed.
According to Deputy Freider Rodriguez, Qutami has a history of drug-related offenses, DUIs, and hit-and-run incidents. He had not complied with probation requirements since 2022 and had recently returned from a two-year stint in Mexico for drug rehabilitation, arriving back in the United States just five days before the hit-and-run.
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Upon locating Qutami and his vehicle in Murrieta last week, law enforcement noted a strong alcohol odor emanating from the truck, indicating recent consumption despite the collision occurring days prior.