Riverside, CA – June 18, 2025 – Riverside police have arrested two individuals in connection with a violent hit-and-run incident that critically injured 21-year-old activist Alexa Carrasco during a “No Kings Day” protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
The incident, which occurred in downtown Riverside, has sparked widespread community outrage and renewed discussions about protest safety amid escalating political tensions.
The Riverside Police Department announced on Tuesday that 58-year-old Russell Prentice, a Riverside resident, was apprehended on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run causing injury.
Authorities allege that Prentice deliberately drove a black SUV into a crowd of protesters at approximately 9:10 p.m. on University Avenue, between Orange and Main streets, striking Carrasco and fleeing the scene.
A second suspect, 39-year-old Candase Wenzel, also of Riverside, was arrested for accessory after the fact and destruction of evidence.
Police claim Wenzel transported the suspect vehicle to Phelan, an unincorporated area in the Mojave Desert, where she intentionally destroyed evidence to obstruct the investigation.
Peaceful Activism in America Gets Escalated
The “No Kings Day” protests, held nationwide to oppose policies of the Trump administration, drew over 5,000 participants to Riverside.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful, with only minor vandalism reported at the historic courthouse.
However, the evening took a tragic turn when video footage captured a black SUV accelerating into a group of marchers.
Social media posts from the scene show protesters approaching the vehicle, with one appearing to bump into it and another striking a taillight, before the SUV veered sharply into the crowd, running over Carrasco.
Witnesses reported hearing a woman scream, “They just ran over my sister!” as the vehicle sped away.
Carrasco, a passionate advocate for social justice, was rushed to a local hospital and remains in the intensive care unit with life-threatening injuries, including cracked ribs, a broken leg, and a punctured lung.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by her friend Leslie Hernandez has raised over $72,000 as of June 17 to support her medical expenses.
Riverside police acted swiftly, leveraging surveillance footage, license plate data, and community tips to identify and locate Prentice on Monday, June 16, in the 4700 block of Jackson Street.
The METRO Team assisted in his arrest, while detectives traced the SUV to Phelan, leading to Wenzel’s apprehension.
Also Read: What Trump Is Doing In California Is “Illegal and Dangerous”, Says Newsom
Statements from I.E. Officials
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez praised the collaborative effort, stating, “From our officers in the field to our Crime Analysis Unit and METRO Team, this case was solved quickly thanks to their combined efforts.”
“Equally important were the tips we received from our community, and we’re grateful for the information they provided.”
The incident has intensified debates about the safety of public demonstrations, particularly as “No Kings” protests across the U.S. have faced isolated confrontations.
In Los Angeles, a similar hit-and-run at a “No Kings” rally left a woman injured, while in Culpeper, Virginia, a 21-year-old man was arrested for driving into a dispersing crowd.
Organizers of the Riverside protest, part of the 50501 Movement, condemned the violence, emphasizing their commitment to nonviolent activism against what they describe as “authoritarian tendencies” in the Trump administration.
Community members have rallied around Carrasco, leaving flowers and messages of support at the site of the incident.
Local activist groups are calling for increased protections for protesters and stricter penalties for vehicular assaults.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information or video footage to contact Detective Mike Smith at MikeSmith@RiversideCA.gov or (951) 353-7103, or Detective Nic Cantino at NCantino@RiversideCA.gov or (951) 353-7104.
Anonymous tips can be submitted via the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app.
This is a developing story.
Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
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