- A North Carolina man surrendered and has been detained in connection to a hit-and-run that occurred in Johnson City,
Tennesee on Saturday, according to the Johnson City Police Department. - Jared Benjamin Lafer, 27, was later identified as the driver of an SUV that over a man at a
Black Lives Matter demonstration, according to WCYB-TV. - Lafer was charged with aggravated assault following his arrest, according to local authorities.
A North Carolina man was arrested for a hit-and-run incident that occurred at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Johnson City, Tennesee on Saturday night, according to local
Local police identified the driver as 27-year-old Jared Benjamin Lafer, a resident of Bakersville, North Carolina, after he surrendered to police and was arrested on Monday.
According to the New York Post, Lafer hit a man with an SUV. Police arrived at the scene at approximately 7:20 at a local intersection, according to the Johnson City Police Department.
The victim, Jonathan Bowers —a photographer at the protest against police brutality— was hit while in the crosswalk, WCYB-TV reported.
Footage of the hit-and-run was posted on social media and shows a white Ford Expedition, hit a man, Bowers, before driving off. The SUV also struck another woman, according to WCYB-TV. Bowers was sent to a local hospital for his injuries and according to the outlet has two broken legs as a result of the incident.
Alyjah Gilmer, a protester who witnessed the hit-and-run, told WCYB-TV the incident appeared intentional.
"This guy came around the corner. He came around one of our cars that was in support," Gilmer said. "He could have turned left. He could have gone around. He chose to come through ... with us still in the crosswalk."
Lafer was charged with aggravated assault, authorities said following his arrest. Lafer posted a 20,000 bail and was released, however, scheduled to appear at Washington County General Sessions Court on Tuesday morning, the Johnson City Police Department said in a news release.