Police Share Findings in Death of Edward Fitzhugh Anderson: No Charges Filed After Fatal Car Incident on Nassau Street

According to the driver, while sitting in her car, she heard the door of 1333 Carlton Avenue slam open, looked up, and saw a man sprinting toward her car. Police reports indicate that the man, later identified as Anderson, reached into the woman’s car with a blade in his hand and tried to stab her. She attempted to drive off to get him to let go of her car but says Anderson pried the car door open and hung on. She then hit a parked car in an effort to make him let go.

Witnesses who saw different views of the incident described to police a man who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs running through the hall of his apartment building and yelling threats before bursting out, leaning into a car, and making stabbing motions toward the driver as she screamed and drove off.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene to find Anderson unresponsive in the street and a distressed woman inside a nearby stopped car. Officers gave Anderson CPR until an ambulance arrived.

Investigators determined that at no time did the driver go into reverse, as some have alleged on social media. Police found no evidence of a relationship between the two. According to the police report, the weapon in Anderson’s hand was a pair of scissors, on which Anderson’s DNA was found. Charlottesville police have yet to receive a toxicology report.

Between the physical evidence and what witnesses reported, Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania found no evidence to support a criminal charge.

Video of the incident was recovered but, at the request of Anderson’s family, it was not shown.