Charlottesville 'Unite The Right' Rally: 1 Killed As Car Hits Crowd; 2 Troopers Die In Helicopter Crash

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Three people were killed, including two Virginia State Police troopers, in events related to a Nazi-flavored white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Saturday and dozens more were injured, authorities said.

A car plowed into a crowd of people believed to be counter-demonstrators Saturday afternoon at the rally in Charlottesville, killing at least one person and injuring as many as 19 others, authorities said. Police say they have charged the driver of the car, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., of Ohio with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and hit-and-run attended failure to stop with injury.

A few hours later, a state police helicopter that had been helping to monitor Saturday's events crashed in a wooded area, killing both troopers who were aboard the chopper. They were identified as Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va., and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va. Both troopers died at the scene.

In a tweet, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer said he was heartbroken that a life has been lost and urged people to go home. City officials said a total of 35 people were injured in events relating to the "Unite the Right" rally, including those injured in the crash. At a press conference along with other city and state officials, Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas said the injuries of the crash victims ranged from life-threatening to minor.

The incident followed a march by hundreds of white nationalists Friday night, holding torches while chanting anti-Semitic slurs.

Among the marchers Friday was white supremacist Richard Spencer. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke was among those who participated in Saturday's rally.

Chief Thomas said a 32-year-old woman crossing the street was killed in the crash. Police have not identified the victim by name. Videos and photos from the scene posted to social media showed several people on the ground with injuries. Three cars were involved in the crash that occurred in the area of Water and Fourth streets.

Graphic footage from the scene showed the car plowing into the crowd followed by people screaming. The car is then seen reversing and fleeing from the scene and several people can be seen trying to follow the car. (WARNING: The footage below contains graphic imagery and profane language that some may find disturbing.)

"What the world saw today is not the place Charlottesville is," Thomas said.

His sentiments were echoed by both Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Mayor Signer.

“Today was a very sad day for our great commonwealth and for Charlottesville,” McAuliffe said at the briefing. He went on to thank local and state law enforcement as well as the "courageous" U.Va students who gathered around the statue of Thomas Jefferson Friday night in opposition to the white nationalists who marched toward it with torches.

McAuliffe said he had one message for the white supremacists and Nazis, which was to "go home."

"You are not wanted, go home, you are not patriots," he said. "There is no place for you here, there is no place for you in America."

McAuliffe said he had spoken with President Donald Trump and told him that there has to be a movement in the country to bring people together. He said he was willing to work alongside Trump to achieve that goal.

Charlottesville's mayor said on Twitter he was "furious and heartsick" by the car crash. At the press conference, Signer said the white nationalists who came to demonstrate in Charlottesville would go down in "the trash heap of history."

“We have overcome a lot in our democracy, we’ve overcome McCarthyism, we’ve overcome segregation and we’ll overcome this," Signer said.

Three others were arrested in connection with the the protests. Troy Dunigan, 21, of Chattanooga, Tenn. was charged with disorderly conduct; Jacob Smith, 21, of Louisa, Va. was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery; and James O'Brien, 44, of Gainesville, Fla. was charged with carrying a concealed handgun.

Local, state and federal officials have condemned the violence in Charlottesville. Speaking from Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump said the White House was monitoring the situation in Charlottesville closely. He said the administration condemns displays of hatred, bigotry and violence on "many sides," not specifically condemning white supremacy. He said he had spoken with McAuliffe and the two agreed that the hate must end.

Trump first weighed in at 1:19 p.m. “We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!” the president said on Twitter. Trump did not single out the marchers for their ideology.

Many called on Trump to specifically condemn white supremacists. Among those urging Trump to speak out against the marchers were Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Cory Gardner. Mike Huckabee, father of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, denounced white supremacists.

Reports of the car crash began to come in just before 2 p.m., marking a tragic turn of events to a day already filled with violence and tension. The rally was scheduled to begin at noon but protesters and counter-protesters had begun gathering around late morning and officials soon declared an "unlawful assembly," ordering people to clear Emancipation Park. City officials wanted the rally to be held at a different location, citing safety concerns however a judge ruled that the rally must be allowed to take place at Emancipation Park.

A local state of emergency was declared followed by McAuliffe also declaring a state of emergency. As police cleared Emancipation Park, protesters moved into McIntire Park where officials had originally wanted the rally to be held, the Daily Progress reported.

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine said the violence and bigotry that were brought to Charlottesville by white nationalists were "sickening."

"The fact that people like David Duke cited the President to justify their views is a disturbing reminder that divisive rhetoric has sadly contributed to a climate where individuals who espouse hate feel emboldened. …I'm encouraged by the words of leaders on both sides of the aisle who have spoken out forcefully against what has occurred today, and it's critical that we follow up those words with action that builds a more inclusive future. We call ourselves a Commonwealth because the word signifies community. It's who we are and we won't go backwards."

Tensions began overnight in Charlottesville as torch-wielding white nationalists marched through the University of Virginia campus chanting things like "blood and soil" and "Jews will not replace us." The marchers clashed with counter-protesters at the base of a statue of UVA founder Thomas Jefferson.

The rally Saturday, and several organized in the recent past, was to oppose the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The city council voted to sell the statue however no action has been taken pending a judge's ruling.

Patch will update this report.

Photo of the scene by Steve Helber/Associated Press