Elizabeth City (US), May 25 (AP) Two women were hit by a car while protesting a police killing in Elizabeth City on Monday, police said.

Michelle Morris, 42, and Valerie Lindsey, 42, were hit by a car driven by 41-year-old Lisa O'Quinn of Greenville, according to an Elizabeth City police statement.

The two women, who are Black, were peacefully protesting at about 6:45 p.m. when they were hit, police said. They were treated at a hospital and released. O'Quinn, who is white, is charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill by the use of a motor vehicle, one count of careless and reckless driving and one count of unsafe movement.

Demonstrations have been held regularly since the April 21 shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., who was killed as he sought to drive away from Pasquotank County deputies. The officers were serving search and arrest warrants that accused Brown of possessing small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine that he intended to sell.

The department said it is investigating “potential aggravating factors” that could result in hate crime charges being filed against O'Quinn, who remained in jail Tuesday on USD 40,000 bond. Her first court appearance is set for Thursday. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)