Man drives into crowd of protesters at 'No Kings' rally in Virginia

By Elissa Salamy | Published June 14, 2025 4:22pm EDT | Crime and Public Safety | FOX 5 DC |

The Brief

• Police say 21-year-old Joseph R. Checklick Jr. intentionally drove an SUV into a crowd of protesters in Culpeper, hitting at least one person.
• Checklick Jr. was arrested and charged with reckless driving; he is currently being held without bond at Culpeper County Jail.
• The incident occurred during a "No Kings" rally, which coincided with national protests and a military parade in D.C. marking the Army's 250th anniversary and President Trump's 79th birthday.

CULPEPER, Va. - Police say a driver in an SUV intentionally drove into a crowd of protesters in Culpeper, hitting at least one person.

What we know: Police say Joseph R. Checklick Jr, 21, of Culpeper intentionally accelerated into a crowd of protesters near James Madison Highway Saturday afternoon.

Officials say he struck at least one person with his vehicle.

Checklick Jr. was arrested and charged with reckless driving, and is being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail.

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CRIME
Police: Man intentionally drives through crowded protest in Virginia, hitting a person

Joseph Checklick Jr., 21, intentionally accelerated his car into the crowd, hitting at least one person with his car.

Author: Amber Anderson
Published: 5:04 PM EDT June 14, 2025
Updated: 5:04 PM EDT June 14, 2025

WASHINGTON — A 21-year-old man was arrested Saturday for recklessly driving through a peaceful protest in Virginia, after police say he intentionally hit a person with his car.

Officers with the Culpeper Police Department were in the 800 block of James Madison Highway monitoring a peaceful protest taking place. As participants were leaving and crossing through a business parking lot, police saw an SUV speed through the crowd of pedestrians.

Based on what they witnessed and initial investigation, officers said Joseph Checklick Jr. intentionally accelerated his car into the crowd, hitting at least one person with his car. However, police said there have not been any injuries reported at this time. The person hit by Checklick did not identify themselves to police.

Checklick Jr. was charged with reckless driving and after appearing before a magistrate, he is being held without bond.

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