SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty March 19 to running over three pedestrians in Anaheim in a targeted attack against one of the victims then fleeing the scene.

David Santiago Meza pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and single counts each of hit-and-run with injury and vandalism, all felonies. Mr. Meza also admitted sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on the victims and committing a secondary offense while out of custody, according to court records.

Mr. Meza’s attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, said an Orange County Superior Court judge dismissed sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder, which would have put Mr. Meza at risk of receiving a life sentence.

If he had gone to trial and lost he would have faced a great deal of time in prison, Ms. Goodman said. Mr. Meza took the plea bargain because he is expected to be sentenced to seven years behind bars and he has credit for nearly as he has awaited trial, Ms. Goodman said.

Mr. Meza was scheduled to be sentenced April 29.

Police were called just after 4:35 p.m. Nov. 19, 2020, to the 800 block of South Beach Boulevard.

Mr. Meza ran down one victim intentionally while driving a 2004 Lexus RX330, police said. The two other victims were injured unintentionally, police said.

The victims, two men and a woman whose names were not released, were hospitalized, but later released, police said.

Mr. Meza also vandalized a motel wall, according to the criminal complaint.