Teacher: Charlottesville attack suspect 'infatuated with the Nazis’

A former teacher of the Ohio man accused of plowing down a group of people protesting a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville described James Alex Fields Jr. as a quiet, respectful student with some “radical ideas on race.”

History teacher Derek Weimer said Fields was in two of his classes at Randall K. Cooper High School in Union, Kentucky, our media partner WCPO in Cincinnati reported.

PHOTOS: Vigils, memorials across country

RELATED: Solidarity vigil in Dayton honors Charlottesville victims 

“He was very infatuated with the Nazis, with Adolf Hitler,” Weimer told WCPO.

Fields wanted to be in the U.S. Army, but was not able to enlist.

Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson said Fields reported for basic training in August 2015 but was released from active duty in December 2015 for “failure to meet training standards.”

RELATED: Ohio man charged in crash into Charlottesville crowd

Fields just moved to Maumee, Ohio, about a year ago, his mother told the Toledo Blade. She said she knew he was attending an “alt-right” rally but had no idea it included white supremacists, the Blade reported.

RELATED: Who is James Alex Fields Jr., suspect in deadly Charlottesville car attack? 

Fields is charged with second-degree murder; three counts of malicious wounding; and failure to stop in an accident that resulted in death.

Heather Heyer, 32, who lived near Charlottesville, was killed in the attack that wounded 35 others, police said.

Download our free mobile apps for breaking news and weather

About the Author