The Clinton satrap McAwful.
You are exactly correct.
McAwful knew about the anti-statue-removal protest permit that was given, withdrawn, and then re-given in federal court. The ACLU even supported reinstating the permit?
McAwful decided to make it a bit difficult for the protest group to gather. He alerted antifa and staged the state police to push the permitted protesters into the antifa position.
When everyone was in position, McAwful declared a state of emergency and ordered the staties to empty the park by pushing the permitted protesters into the waiting baseball bats of antifa.
All of the violence that ensued, including the fatality from the car, is on McAwful's shoulders
That's my take.