Unrest unraveled in Charlottesville, Virginia where an alleged White Supremacist rammed his car into a crowd of counter protestors. The incident resulted in the death of a young woman. 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr. was denied bail after being charged with second-degree murder in relation to the rampage. The Justice Department is considering domestic terrorism charges and filing federal hate crime charges as well. The rally by white supremacists was in protest of the removal of a confederate statue. Two state troopers were also killed during the protest in a freak helicopter accident.
A Virginia judge ordered that Fields remain in custody. Fields has a troubled past that includes threatening his wheelchair bound mother with a knife and beating her. He could not afford an attorney and will be appointed an attorney by the court. An initial appointment could not happen because there was a potential conflict of interest with the local public defenders’ office.
Fields was reportedly fascinated by Nazism and traveled from Ohio to attend the rally in Charlottesville. He will be eligible for a bail review hearing prior to his next hearing on August 25.