Lawyer: Injured U.Va. student asked ‘How could this happen?’

In this photo provided by Bryan Beaubrun, Martese Johnson is held down by an officer Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Charlottesville, Va. Court records show that Johnson was charged with obstruction of justice without force and public swearing or intoxication. The Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is calling for an investigation into the arrest of the student. (AP Photo/Bryan Beaubrun) In this photo provided by Bryan Beaubrun, Martese Johnson is held down by an officer Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Charlottesville, Va. Court records show that Johnson was charged with obstruction of justice without force and public swearing or intoxication. The Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is calling for an investigation into the arrest of the student. (AP Photo/Bryan Beaubrun)

By Associated Press March 19, 2015 1 min read

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A University of Virginia student who was bloodied during an arrest by a state liquor control agent says in a statement read by his attorney that he kept wondering how such a thing could happen.

Martese Johnson appeared at a news conference Thursday evening, accompanied by his attorney who read a statement from the injured man.

The statement read, “As the officers held me down, one thought raced through my mind: how could this happen? I trust the scars will one day heal, but the trauma of what the officers did will stay with me forever.”

Students at the university have demonstrated in support of Johnson, who needed 10 stitches to close a gash on his head.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered the Virginia State Police to investigate the incident.