58-year-old accountant charged with murder of California ER doctor gets $1 million bail
An accountant accused of mowing down an ER doctor before stabbing him to death has appeared in court on murder charges.
Vanroy Evan Smith, 39, appeared in Orange County Central Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of Dr. Michael Mammone, 58, on Wednesday.
Dr. Mammone was cycling along California’s Pacific Coast Highway when he was run over by a white Lexus that ran a red light at an intersection.
Smith is accused of running over the married father of two before getting out and stabbing him and has been taken into custody on $1 million bail.
He appeared in court chained to several deputies and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Accountant Vanroy Evan Smith, 39, appeared in Orange County Central Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of Dr. Michael Mammone, 58, on Wednesday
Dr. Michael Mammone, 58, was riding his bicycle on Pacific Coast Highway when he was run over by a white Lexus on Wednesday
The alleged killer was also charged with personal use of a deadly weapon and will appear in court on February 14.
Witnesses say he was holding a BB gun when he approached Dr. Mammone, a married father of two, and yelled racial slurs about “white privilege,” according to ABC7.
Shocking video shows the moment Smith, a trained accountant, collided with the cyclist, with police claiming the pair were complete strangers.
It shows the Lexus appearing to speed through the intersection, throwing the doctor and his bike into the air.
Smith, who is described as a black man on his arrest records, can then go to Dr. Mammone and attack him again before witnesses drag him away.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said investigators were unaware of the defamation, adding that there was “no known relationship or motive” to the murder.
It’s unclear whether the doctor was traveling to or from work during the incident, with friends saying he regularly cycled to the hospital as he lived close by.
His wife Julie told DailyMail.com it was a “really difficult time” for the family following the tragic incident.
Dr Mammone leaves behind his wife Julie, pictured with Mike, a nurse at the same hospital, and two sons, Nick and Jon
Footage showed Mammone’s mutilated mountain bike and the car’s shattered windshield and damaged front end
Authorities found the doctor lying at the intersection with serious injuries, while police recovered a knife at the scene.
Despite witnesses claiming to have seen some weapon, officials have not confirmed whether any firearms were recovered from the crime scene.
Sergeant Michael Woodruff also praised the witnesses at the scene who detained Smith, calling their actions “brave and heroic.”
Smith, a father of two, remains in custody at the Orange County Intake Release Center.
Dr. Mammone has been working as an ER physician at Providence Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach since 2011 and graduated from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine in 1993.
He also occasionally worked out of Mission Viejo and Orange County Children’s Hospital in Santa Ana.
His wife Julie told DailyMail.com it was a “really difficult time” for the family following the tragic incident
The destroyed bicycle of Dr. Mammone can be seen at the corner of the intersection after being thrown into the air
Aerial footage shows where the white Lexus collided with the cyclist and remained parked a few hundred meters away
The hospital said in a statement: “We are stunned by this devastating tragedy. The entire Mission Hospital family mourns the loss of an incredible doctor and friend.
“We will appreciate the dedication of Dr. Mammone to honor our community and passion for medicine by continuing to provide exceptional care.”
He is survived by his wife Julie, a nurse at the same hospital, and two sons, Nick and Jon.
Cardiologist Dawn Aatwal added: ‘That’s the irony of this whole thing. If a patient had been put in his condition, he would have done everything he could to save that person.
He appeared in court chained to several deputies and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth
Shocking video shows the moment Smith, a trained accountant, collided with the cyclist, with police claiming the pair were complete strangers
Despite witnesses claiming to have seen some weapon, officials have not confirmed whether any firearms were recovered from the crime scene
“He saved so many lives here and he died very close to where he saved hundreds of lives,” said cardiologist Dr Dawn Aatwal.
Footage showed Mammone’s mutilated mountain bike and the car’s shattered windshield and damaged front end.
The Orange County DA’s office said they are currently prosecuting nearly 70 vehicular deaths, quite a few involving road rage, which appears to have increased since Covid restrictions were lifted and people returned to driving.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-288-6740. You can remain anonymous by calling Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.