Officials in Charlottesville, Virginia have identified Heather Heyer as the woman who was killed when James Alex Fields allegedly plowed his grey Dodge Challenger through a large group of people on a pedestrian mall on Saturday.
Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal who lived in Charlottesville, was crossing the street when Fields rammed her with his vehicle, according to a press release.
Emergency medical personnel transferred Heyer to University Hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared her dead.
Verified @gofundme campaign to support Heather Heyer's family: https://t.co/S0XRPmXTep
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 13, 2017
“Charlottesville resident Heather Heyer was struck down by a vehicle while exercising her peaceful First Amendment right to speech,” the city’s press release says. “This senseless act of violence rips a hole in our collective hearts.”
“On behalf of the City of Charlottesville and all of our citizens, we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ms. Heyer,” the Charlottesville press release says.
City officials also expressed condolences to the families of H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M. M. Bates, the two Virginia State Police killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Charlottesville.
“These men gave their lives in the line of duty and our gratitude to them cannot be overstated,” city officials said.
— Charlottesville City (@CvilleCityHall) August 13, 2017
A childhood friend of Heyer, Felicia Correa, told the New York Daily News that Heyer’s mother was proud of Heyer.
“She died doing what was right. My heart is broken, but I am forever proud of her,” Correa said.
Fields, who was reportedly the driver, also injured 19 people on Saturday. Five of the 19 injured people remained in critical condition as of Saturday evening.
Police arrested Fields, 20, on several charges including suspicion of second-degree murder and malicious wounding. Other possible charges include failure to stop for an accident involving a death and hit and run.
He is reportedly being held with no bail.
Albermale county jail just sent me the mugshot of today's suspect in today's Charlottesville tragedy. James Alex Fields Jr, 20. pic.twitter.com/ucALl7oSyi
— Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) August 13, 2017
Fields is a resident of Ohio. His last known residence is in Maumee, Ohio, a town southwest of Toledo with a population of 14,286.
Numerous eye witnesses told The Daily Caller News Foundation that the vehicle was driven by a member of the white supremacist movement.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Singer has urged protesters and counter-protesters to leave.
I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will–go home.
— Mike Signer (@MikeSigner) August 12, 2017
The white nationalist protests gathered in Charlottesville because they were angry that city officials had planned to remove a statue honoring Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general.
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