Holly MatkinYorba Linda, CA – A Black Lives Matter supporter has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly plowing her vehicle into a crowd of people on Saturday, hitting and severely injuring at least two of them, police said (videos below).
The incident occurred during the Black Lives Matter’s “Caravan for Justice” demonstration on Sept. 26, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) said in a press release.
Beginning at about 2 p.m., the group marched along one side of the six-lane Imperial Highway near Yorba Linda Boulevard while a group of pro-President Trump demonstrators marched down the opposite side of the roadway, The Orange County Register reported.
“Approximately 30 minutes after the protests began, we began to receive reports of physical altercations occurring between the two protest groups, including at least one individual who was pepper sprayed by another protestor,” the OCSD said in the press release.
By that time, about 250 people had congregated for the dueling demonstrations.
YORBA LINDA: BLM supporter pepper sprays man for no reason (only caught the tail end).
She then proceeds to pepper spray me for filming & a woman tells me to go to the other side. I was wearing plain clothes and recording the BLM speakers earlier. pic.twitter.com/MbvjjJkpPp
— Tomas Morales (@TomasMorales_iv) September 26, 2020
“Due to the physical altercations and reports of individuals within the crowd having weapons, an unlawful assembly was declared and a dispersal order was issued,” the sheriff’s office said.
Around 3pm, the groups had an altercation.
BLM pushes a Trump supporter & punches were thrown.
The scene was tense all around. #YorbaLinda pic.twitter.com/xLCdvYngb5
— Tomas Morales (@TomasMorales_iv) September 27, 2020
OCSD ordered the groups to leave multiple times before the driver of a white sedan suddenly stomped on the gas and drove through the crowd at approximately 3 p.m., according to the department.
Video footage from the scene showed the vehicle as it accelerated through a group of people who were waving American flags, “Trump 2020” flags, and Thin Blue Line flags.
The driver, later identified as 40-year-old Tatiana Turner, crashed into multiple people, including a man and a woman who were left with “major injuries,” the OCSD said.
The sheriff’s office said that Turner was a part of the “Caravan for Justice” Black Lives Matter group.
The video showed Turner as she sped away from the scene of the crash and drove past several law enforcement vehicles.
Police pulled her over a short distance away from the scene.
She was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder, the OCSD said in the press release.
Additional law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the department’s request for mutual aid, and the demonstrators dispersed by 4:30 p.m.
The injured protesters were rushed to a local hospital with severe injuries, the OCSD said.
“The victims, from what we can tell, it appears that they were part of the Trump supporters,” OCSD Sergeant Dennis Breckner told The Orange County Review.
“The man suffered two broken legs and the woman had major injuries,” Sgt. Breckner told KABC.
Both victims are expected to survive, the OCSD said.
Deputies also arrested another suspect, 46-year-old Jason Mancuso, for allegedly failing to obey the order to disperse, according to the sheriff’s office.
Watch the incident unfold in the videos below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
WATCH: A car ripped through a crowd of Trump supporters at a BLM counterprotest in Yorba Linda. It was clearly deliberate and the driver did not stop even as the Trump crowd gathered to tend to the wounded. Trump supporters did NOT attack the driver. pic.twitter.com/f9nu6L0WBu
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 27, 2020
*GRAPHIC* Trump supporter was struck by a car. Details unclear on who hit the man. His ankle is visibly broken. #YorbaLinda pic.twitter.com/zhqcFcE8Gt
— Tomas Morales (@TomasMorales_iv) September 26, 2020
Sandy Malone
