A 26-year-old Valencia man accused of purposely hitting three children with his car outside of Taft Elementary School in Santa Ana as well as allegedly having several incendiary devices in his vehicle was charged Wednesday with multiple counts of attempted murder, among other charges.

Jason Carlos Guzman, 26, of Valencia, was charged Wednesday with seven felony counts of premeditated attempted murder, seven felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, three felony counts of hit and run with injury, and three felony counts of child abuse. He has also been charged with one felony count of possession of a flammable liquid, one misdemeanor count of brandishing a deadly weapon, and one misdemeanor count of hit and run with property damage, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

“The actions of a single individual have resulted in undue trauma to the victims he hit as well as countless children, parents, and school staff,” Spitzer said in a statement. “These children were innocently walking to school on the sidewalk with their grandparents and but for the grace of God, this incident did not result in a child being seriously injured or killed.”

If convicted as charged, Guzman, a convicted felon, faces a maximum sentence of 49 years to life plus six years in state prison as well as one year in Orange County jail, according to Spitzer.

Guzman was convicted in 2017 for committing felony assault by using force that is likely to commit great bodily injury.

Suspect Attempted To Enter School Before Hitting Children With Car

Around 8 a.m. Monday, a man, later identified as Guzman, approached a staff member at Taft Elementary School in Santa Ana, approximately 60 miles south of the Santa Clarita Valley. Guzman reportedly requested to use the bathroom at the school but was rebuffed by the staff member, and left at her request, according to the OCDA’s office.

While leaving, Guzman allegedly crashed into a parking barrier in the school parking lot with his red Mazda Protegé. He then is accused of accelerating onto the sidewalk, purposely striking three children walking to school with their grandparents, including a 6-year-old just the day before her 7th birthday, according to OCDA office statements.

“Three of the children – an 11-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old girl flew into the air after being hit by the vehicle. While fleeing the accident, Guzman is accused of hitting an SUV occupied by a woman and her 11-year-old daughter,” stated OCDA officials Wednesday.  “Another mother who followed Guzman from the school and witnessed him hitting the children on the sidewalk got out to confront Guzman. Guzman is accused of brandishing a knife at her, but the woman (ran) back to her vehicle and is not hurt.”

Police officers from the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) arrived at the scene to find Guzman bleeding from an apparently self-inflicted stab wound to his abdomen, and transported him to the hospital in custody. He remains hospitalized as of Wednesday.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad later located several containers of flammable liquid in Guzman’s car, initially described as “incendiary devices,” according to SAPD reports.

“We are thankful for all law enforcement agencies who responded to ensure everyone at the campus remained safe,” said Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Jerry Almendarez. “Our School District is continuing this week to have crisis counselors at Taft Elementary to support the social and emotional needs of our students and staff following this traumatic event.”

No connection between Guzman and Taft Elementary nor motivation for the alleged attack have been made public as of Wednesday.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ann Fawaz of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

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