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Family, friends mourn 3 dead in Virginia rally violence

 
This undated photo provided by the Virginia State Police shows Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va. Bates along with Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen were killed Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, when the helicopter they were piloting crashed while assisting public safety resources during clashes at a nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. (Virginia State Police via AP) NYCD601
This undated photo provided by the Virginia State Police shows Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va. Bates along with Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen were killed Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, when the helicopter they were piloting crashed while assisting public safety resources during clashes at a nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. (Virginia State Police via AP) NYCD601
Published Aug. 14, 2017

RICHMOND, Va. — The woman killed Saturday when a car plowed into a crowd of people protesting a white nationalist rally in Virginia was described as a "true American hero" who died doing what she loved — standing up for people.

Two state troopers also died when their helicopter crashed in a wooded area while deployed as part of a large-scale police effort to contain Saturday's violence. They were remembered for their commitment and love of their jobs.

Heather Heyer, 32, was among the hundreds of protesters who had gathered in Charlottesville, Va., to decry what was believed to be the largest gathering of white supremacists in a decade — including neo-Nazis, skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members — who descended on the city to rally against plans to remove a Confederate statue.

Felicia Correa, a longtime friend of Heyer's, said she spoke with Heyer's mother, who is struggling with the loss. "She said, 'Heather died doing what she loved — standing up for people,' " said Correa, who by early Sunday afternoon had raised about $125,000 for Heyer's family through an online fundraising drive.

Heyer grew up in Greene County and worked as a legal assistant at a law firm. Her boss, Larry Miller, said the young woman was active in the firm's bankruptcy practice and had a "big heart."

"She cares about the people we take care of. Just a great person," he said.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said he was touched by the deaths of the two troopers, Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, whom he knew personally. McAuliffe frequently uses state police aircraft to travel the state and said Cullen, 48, had been one of his regular pilots. Before joining the aviation unit, Bates has been a member of the state trooper team that guards the governor and his family.

"It was personal to me," McAuliffe said Sunday morning at a church service. "We were very close."

Cullen was a 23-year veteran of the department and head of the aviation unit. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Berke joined the department in 2004, and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

"Both of them were great guys who loved what they were doing," said Perry Benshoof, a retired trooper who worked with both.

Craig Bates said his younger brother had always wanted to serve others and to fly.

The helicopter crashed in a wooded area outside Charlottesville about 5 p.m. Saturday. Police said the cause of the crash is still under investigation but there was "no indication of foul play."