According to police, the incident, which ALGOP claimed was political violence, was just road rage

The Alabama Republican Party claimed Monday that a volunteer for former President Donald Trump was attacked in an “apparently politically motivated attack” after leaving a local Trump headquarters.

But Athens Police Capt. Anthony Presnell released a statement Tuesday saying the incident in the local Lowe’s parking lot was simply road rage and that neither victim nor witness indicated any political motivation.

ALGOP’s release revealed Tara Johnson as the victim of the attack, describing the incident saying, “The attacker grabbed Johnson by her hair, punched her repeatedly in the face, and slammed her head against the door of her truck.”

“The attack on Tara Johnson is a shameful act of violence that has no place in our society. Having served alongside Tara on the Limestone County Executive Committee for many years, this is very personal to me,” said John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. “Tara is not just a volunteer; She is a kind and generous person who is always ready to help anyone in need. We are heartbroken and outraged by this senseless act of violence against them.”

Presnell did not name any names in his statement, but explained that “Driver #1” allegedly ran a stop sign as he entered the Lowe’s parking lot from a side street, prompting “Driver #2” to honk and with the light flashing at them. When Driver #2 stopped and the passenger was standing outside the vehicle, Driver #1 apparently came back, swore at the passenger and grabbed her shirt. Presnell said the passenger told police that she attacked the No. 1 driver in response.

Lowe’s surveillance footage appears to have captured the crime scene, and Wahl told WAAY31 that he wants to see that video footage, as well as the body camera footage, before retracting anything the party has said about it being a politically motivated attack.

In the first press release, Wahl used the incident to “call on the Democratic Party and mainstream media to stop their inflammatory rhetoric that incites individuals against Donald Trump and his supporters.”