Assmaa Elayyat, a deputy director with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, has pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter after allegedly killing 27-year-old Katie Osorio in a hit-and-run incident. During her arraignment, prosecutors revealed that Elayyat expressed distress over a mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which occurred on the same day as the crash. Elayyat's vehicle struck Osorio while she was waiting at a bus stop, resulting in fatal injuries. After the collision, Elayyat attempted to free her car from a tree before fleeing the scene. Authorities located her using license plate readers. Family members of Osorio condemned Elayyat's defense, stating that using the mosque shooting as an excuse was inappropriate. Osorio was preparing to enroll in a nursing program and was engaged to be married in December. Elayyat could face up to 11 years in prison if convicted of the charges against her.