Sunday, August 13, 2017

Suspect Name, Mugshot Emerges In Charlottesville Car Attack That Killed 1, Injured 26

Update 12: Charlottesville Police have officially named James Alex Fields, Jr., 20, of Ohio as the suspected driver in an attack on a crowd of counter-protesters that killed one and injured 26 earlier today, NBC reported.


They"ve also released Fields"s mugshot:



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Update 11: The Washington Post is reporting that the driver of the 2010 gray Dodge Challenger that was driven into a crowd of counter-protesters in Charlottesville today was registered to a James Alex Fields of Ohio. A man with that name was also booked into the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail on Saturday on suspicion of second-degree murder.


So, while it has yet to be officially announced, it looks like we have our suspect...





The car is registered to 20-year-old James Alex Fields of Ohio, according to vehicle registration records reviewed by The Washington Post. Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Superintendent Martin Kumer told The Post that a man with the same name and age was booked Saturday on suspicion of second-degree murder, malicious wounding, failure to stop for an accident involving a death, and hit and run. Kumer said Fields is being held without bail.



The Associated Press is now reporting that the number of people injured in the attack has climbed to 26.


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Update 10: City Manager Maurice Jones confirms that 3 people are dead (1 from the car attack and 2 police in a helicopter crash) and 35 more were injured following a disastrous day in Charlottesville. Furthermore, Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas confirmed the driver is being charged with criminal homicide.


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Update 9: In a press conference following today"s attacks in Charlottesville, which killed one young woman, and a helicopter crash that killed two offiers, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe had some choice words for far-right demonstrators who converged on the town: "Go home...and never come back."





“You came here today to hurt people and you did hurt people. But my message is clear: We are stronger than you. You have made our commonwealth stronger you will not succeed. There is no place for you here there is no place for you in America. Go home…and never come back.”



The driver"s identity and any information about his possible motive for the attack have yet to be released.


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Update 8: In the latest development in what was already a bizarre, tragic day, a police helicopter crashed into a wooded area near a gold course in Charlottesville, not far from where the “Unite the Right” rally was being held.



The crash happened around 5 p.m. ET according to clips and photos posted on twitter. A local ABC News affiliate has released audio of the emergency dispatch reporting the helicopter crash.



It is unknown if there are casualties or injuries.


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Update 7: The organizer of today"s rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists and various extremists to Charlottesville said he disavows the violence that eroded it. According to AP, Jason Kessler said in an interview Saturday evening that whoever drove a car into a group of counter-protesters “did the wrong thing.” He said he was saddened that people were hurt. Kessler is a local blogger and activist who described the event as a pro-white rally. He planned it to protest the city’s decision to remove a Confederate monument. He also criticized law enforcement’s response to the event, which was dispersed before speakers could take the stage. He said they did a poor job controlling the chaos to allow free speech.


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Update 6: Citing a state official, AP confirms that the driver of a car that plowed into a group of marchers in Charlottesville is in police custody. Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said the driver, a man, has been arrested. Moran did not immediately provide a name of the driver.


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Update 5: Meanwhile back in Charlotesville, the Police have shut down the block as a helicopter hovers above. Additionally, the UVA Medical Center official says one person has died and 19 were injured after a car plowed into a group of protesters in Charlottesville. University of Virginia Medical Center spokeswoman Angela Taylor confirmed the death to The Associated Press.


  


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Update 4: Discussing today"s violence and tragic incident in Charlottesville, Trump called for "a swift restoration of law and order" saying "when I watch Charlottesville, to me it"s very, very sad" adding that "the hate and division must stop, and must stop right now", and notes that "we condemn in the possible strongest terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides." Trump also said that "we have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection for each other" adding that "I want to salute the great work of the state and local police in Virginia ... the National Guard has been working smart and working hard, they"ve been doing a terrific job."


Some other quotes via Axios:


  • "Our country is doing very well in so many ways: We have record employment, we have unemployment the lowest it"s been in almost 17 years; we have companies pouring into our country ... we"re renegotiating trade deals to make them great for our country and great for the American worker."

  • "No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first. We love our country, we love our God, we love our flag, we"re proud of our country, we"re proud of who we are, so we want to get this situation straightened out in Charlottesville, and we want to study it and we want to see what we"re doing wrong as a country where things like this can happen."

  • "We cherish our history and our future together, we have to respect each other, ideally we have to love each other."


Reporters have pointed out that as he was leaving, he ignored reports" questions such as "Do you want the support of these white nationalists groups?" and "Would you call this terrorism, sir?"



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Update 3: according to the Mayor of Charlottesville, at least one person has died: "I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will--go home. "



Meanwhile, AG Sessions has issued a statement saying that "we stand united behind the President in condemning the violence in #Charlottesville."





"I have been in contact with our Department of Justice agents assisting at the scene and state officials. We will continue to support our state and local officers on the ground in any way possible. We stand united behind the president in condemning the violence in Charlottesville and any message of hate and intolerance. This kind of violence is totally contrary to American values and can never be tolerated. I want to thank all law enforcement personnel in the area for their commitment to protecting this community and the rule of law."



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Update 2: The car has been found nearby abandoned, while Mic tech reporter Taylor Lorenz writes that earlier "reports that the car had no license plates are false. The police have the plates, the car, and the man in custody."




The car was spotted with an Ohio license plate GVH 1111




      


      


An internet search appears to confirm that the car is a 2010 Dodge Challenger:





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As Mic"s Taylor Lorenz further adds, the police are asking private citizens with video of the car to share them with authorities. They are said to have arrested a driver, but it was unclear of which car.


Lorenz adds that The driver was taken into police custody right after the incident. Police say the car was covered in dents prior and apparently hit by a bat. She adds that "If you watch the earlier part of my stream you can see anti-right wing chasing after a Lexus and throwing rocks, bottles, a shoe. This car was not the one that mowed people down. That was a differ grey car."


Lorentz also notes that according to "several police officers at the station here think the guy running people down wasn"t malicious. They said the driver was scared. His car was being swarmed by protesters and some of them were getting violent (like the guy who punched me/threw me down)"




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Update 1: Witnesses told BuzzFeed News that the numbers of injured are unknown but witnesses saw at least six people injured, and one person appeared to be very badly injured and was receiving CPR.



Reporter Wiliam Turton tweeted that two of his friends marching with the Democratic Socialists of America had been hit by the car and were injured, with one suffering a "probably broken leg and the other a concussion".





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As we detailed earlier, a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia on Saturday afternoon, news reports said. An Associated Press reporter saw at least one person on the ground receiving medical treatment immediately after the incident: there were several hundred protesters marching in a long line when a car drove into a group of them, then quickly backed out and sped away. Video on social media showed more than one vehicle involved in the incident.




Different angle showing the start of the car"s acceleration...



Shocking scene (at around 2:35 in) shows the hit and run as the car quickly reverses back out and away...



And the aftermath...



The vehicle quickly left the scene...




Emergency services are on site...


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