Tearful White Nationalist Surrenders, Faces 3 Felonies

Christopher Cantwell turns himself in in Virginia, will head to Charlottesville
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 24, 2017 5:14 AM CDT
Tearful White Nationalist Surrenders
In this Aug. 11, 2017, image, Christopher Cantwell attends a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.   (Vice News Tonight via AP)

White nationalist Christopher Cantwell has obeyed police instructions and surrendered to authorities. The New Hampshire man faces two felony charges of illegal tear gas use and one felony charge of malicious bodily injury over his role in the Charlottesville violence, reports the BBC. He turned himself in to police in Lynchburg, Va., and will be transported to Charlottesville, where the University of Virginia Police Department had warrants out for his arrest, CNN reports. He could face several years in prison if found guilty.

Cantwell, one of the torch-bearing protesters who chanted slogans like "Jews will not replace us" as they marched against the proposed removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, told the AP earlier this week that he pepper-sprayed a counterprotester in self-defense "because my only other option was knocking out his teeth." He said he was looking forward to his day in court, though in a YouTube video posted after the Charlottesville rally, he became tearful while talking about his fear of being arrested. (More Christopher Cantwell stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X