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A former University of Texas at Tyler student faces assault charges after disrupting a conservative event and striking a TPUSA member with a cane on Tuesday.
He was identified by law enforcement as Ciro Stephen Tomlian, 19, and booked into the Smith County Jail. He faces two counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault causing bodily injury.
The Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Office could not be reached for comment Wednesday by The College Fix on what formal charges Tomlian may face. A phone call to the jail spokesperson was also not returned Wednesday.
Tomlian was seen in a video vandalizing a Turning Point USA display, ripping down an American flag, calling the TPUSA members “fascist pieces of sh*t,” and using a prop cane to smack a member’s legs before he was subdued and arrested. He was wearing a cape and some sort of wizard hat at the time.
According to his Instagram account, Tomlian goes by he/they/she pronouns.
Reached for comment, UT Tyler spokesperson Beverley Golden referred The College Fix to a statement sent to the campus community Tuesday by President Julie Philley:
Earlier today, an incident occurred on the UT Tyler main campus during a Turning Point USA student event. An individual, who is not a UT Tyler student, assaulted three people. UT Tyler police responded immediately and arrested the individual, who is in custody and has been criminally trespassed from the university.
Everyone has the right to free speech, and violence will not be tolerated at this university.
Golden did not respond to a follow-up question from The Fix asking about an email allegedly sent by Philley in response to a concerned member of the campus community. According to a screenshot circulating on social media; that message stated:
The individual involved had withdrawn from the university and should not have been in classes this month. We are investigating the specifics. As of today, he has no legal right to be on university property. Should he come onto campus without authorization, he would be subject to removal and any appropriate legal action.
Please know that we are committed to maintaining a safe learning environment and will continue to work closely with our campus police and law enforcement partners as appropriate.
Fox News reported that once he was in handcuffs, the suspect told police “freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences” before apologizing.
The incident took place during a “Pick Up the Mic” event hosted by UT-Tyler’s TPUSA chapter.
MORE: Leftist U. Texas student arrested for striking TPUSA member with cane, ripping down flag
