CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Describing a scene of violent rage, the Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing a member of the women’s team told police he kicked in her bedroom door and shook her, and her head repeatedly hit the wall, according to a court document.
The suspect, 22-year-old George Huguely of Chevy Chase, Md., has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Yeardley Love, also 22.
Huguely was not present at a court hearing Tuesday, but he appeared via videoconference from Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, wearing a gray-striped uniform. Afterward, his lawyer, Francis Lawrence, said Love’s “death was not intended but an accident with a tragic outcome.”
Lawrence said Huguely withdrew from the university. Huguely and Love were seniors.
An affidavit for a search warrant said two people found Love, of Cockeysville, Md., facedown in her bedroom early Monday morning, with a pool of blood on her pillow. There was a large bruise on her face and one eye was swollen shut, police said, and she was pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to revive her.
According to the document, Huguely — listed in the Virginia men’s lacrosse media guide as 6-feet-2 and 209 pounds — told police “he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love, and that during the course of the altercation he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall.”
Huguely told police the two had been in a relationship “and that the relationship had ended.”
Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo said investigators are looking into whether Huguely had threatened Love in the past.
“That’s what we’re trying to get to precisely, through our interviews with friends, family and teammates — to see to what extent there’s truth to that,” Longo said.
Longo said there were no past police reports “of prior incidents; there’s no protective orders or restraining orders.”
Police in Lexington, Va. — about 70 miles from Charlottesville — said that in November 2008, Huguely was shocked with a stun gun by an officer there after resisting arrest for public intoxication. He pleaded guilty to two charges last year, was placed on six months’ probation and was given a 60-day sentence, which was suspended.
Huguely waived his right to have an attorney present while he gave his chilling account of what happened at Love’s apartment.
Huguely told police he communicated with Love by e-mail and took her computer and disposed of it. He also told them where they could find it. Longo said investigators have the computer and are “in the process of trying to see what evidentiary value may exist.”
Late Tuesday night, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said both lacrosse teams will participate in the NCAA Tournament.
“In the case of the women’s and men’s programs, our lacrosse teams will honor Yeardley by continuing their seasons,” Littlepage said.
