ENCINITAS, Calif. — A 29-year-old man accused of driving a U-Haul van into a crowd of people outside an Encinitas bar pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Christian Davis faces two counts of attempted premeditated murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury and one charge of felony drunk driving.
The attempted murder counts are related to two security guards the defendant allegedly threatened and then attempted to run over.
Davis allegedly drove into a group gathered outside the Shelter Encinitas bar around 1:15 a.m. Sunday and was arrested at the scene.
Witnesses told deputies that Davis, a North Carolina native who lives in Fallbrook, had been at the bar and was asked to leave because he was intoxicated.
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Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Coulter said the charges include premeditation because he "made specific threats directed to someone saying 'I'm going to kill you' then moments later he went and got into a van and used it as a weapon and directed it to the people he made the threats to."
The suspect retrieved the U-Haul from a nearby 7-11 parking lot before driving it onto the sidewalk outside the Saloon and Shelter bars, according to prosecutors. After striking the victims, the van then slammed into a roadside tree and the front of the bar.
The counts of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury are related to two patrons who were at the bar at the time of the incident.
One victim – a 25-year-old man – suffered a serious leg injury and had undergone three surgeries for it as of Wednesday. Another victim – a 24-year-old man - suffered two collapsed lungs, fractured ribs, a broken arm and was in intensive care at one point. It was unclear on Wednesday if that person was still in the hospital.
A third victim - a male security guard - received minor injuries.
Two people also received minor injuries when they detained Davis at the scene before deputies arrived, Rosas said.
Results of a blood draw to determine Davis’s blood alcohol level were pending Wednesday. He was listed on the jail log as being held in isolation. He was escorted into court by four deputies and was wearing a green jumpsuit which typically indicates a high level of security.
Davis faces life in prison if convicted. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail, and must wear a SCRAM alcohol-monitoring device should he post bail. He's due back in court March 12 for a readiness conference.