A supporter of President Donald Trump has was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after he was filmed driving his SUV into a group of Black Lives Matter supporters in Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday.
Jared Benjamin Lafer, 27, of North Carolina, surrendered to authorities after spending two days at large, the Johnson City Police Department said.
Video shared on social media shows the SUV stopped in front of several pedestrians at a crosswalk before the vehicle abruptly accelerates, visibly knocking one man to the ground. The vehicle continues to drive off.
One of the pedestrians was taken to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the incident, authorities said. The injured man suffered two broken legs, according to 5 News Online.
Similar violent scenes involving vehicles and pedestrians have been seen across the country in recent weeks as demonstrations promoting social justice continue in protests to the killings or wounding of unarmed Black Americans by police.
Watch:
TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ — JOHNSON CITY, TN
"Tonight at a peaceful protest for #BlackLivesMatter a car brutally ran over a photographer and protesters lawfully in a crosswalk on State of Franklin near Southern Craft" @TriCitiesHoller
(original post: https://t.co/zHpIcbDjEm) pic.twitter.com/bKCx3vLIMf
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) September 13, 2020
