Second Suspect Arrested in Beating of Black Charlottesville Man

Alex Michael Ramos faces charges in connection with attack at white nationalist rally in Virginia

Photo: Zach Roberts

A second suspect wanted in connection with the brutal beating a black man in Charlottesville, Virginia, appeared in court on Tuesday.

Alex Michael Ramos, 33, had turned himself the night before to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, CBS affiliate WGCL reported.

A warrant had previously been out for Ramos’ arrest in relation to the violent unrest at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12.

The Georgia native now faces one count of malicious wounding in the attack on DeAndre Harris, which was captured in photos and video that went viral.

Harris, 20, suffered a concussion, abrasions and contusions across his body, a head laceration, a knee injury and a fractured wrist during the assault, according to his attorney.

On Friday, Daniel Borden, 18, was also  arrested and charged with the malicious wounding of Harris. Borden is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center in Ohio, according to WCPO Cincinnati.

In an interview with WGCL before he handed himself in, Ramos said he attended the rally not as a white nationalist, but “because, pretty much, I’m a conservative … There were some non-racist members who were going to a free speech rally,” he said.

He said that while he hit Harris once, others beat him with sticks and shields, describing the incident as “a defensive attack.”

Ramos said he would only apologize to Harris, “if he apologized to me for attacking and taunting us, maybe.”

He also went on to blamed the Charlottesville Police Department, saying: “They’re absolutely, 110 percent at fault … did nothing to stop it.”

The charge of malicious wounding is a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.

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