Texas authorities have identified the man accused of attacking students at a Turning Point USA tent on the University of Texas at Tyler campus Tuesday. The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations involving the conservative youth organization since its founder was assassinated last year.
Smith County booking records list the suspect as Ciro Tomlian.
Video from the confrontation shows a man wearing a cape and wide-brimmed hat throwing an American flag to the ground and swinging a cane at a group of people. Authorities said he is a former student who was not enrolled at the university when the alleged attack occurred.
Tomlian is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault causing bodily injury. He allegedly struck Turning Point USA students with the cane.
A split image shows Ciro Tomlian’s booking photo and a video still from Tuesday’s alleged assault involving three University of Texas at Tyler students participating in a Turning Point USA event on Nov. 10, 2026. (Smith County Sheriff’s Office, @FrontlinesTPUSA/@Lis_Furguson/@AlannaDiane_)
The video captures the closing moments of the encounter and Tomlian’s arrest by campus police. He grabs an American flag, tosses it over his shoulder, raises his middle finger toward the students and says, “Back the f— off you fascist pieces of s—.”
A woman off-camera tells him to stay away. Tomlian then lifts the cane and takes a practice-like swing in her direction.
The man identified as Tomlian shouts, “Back up!” while the woman urges another person to move away.
A male voice off-camera responds, “No one’s scared of you.”
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk speaks at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Oct. 24, 2024. (John Locher/AP Photo)
Tomlian swings the cane again, apparently hitting the person speaking, before another individual rushes in and takes it from him. Police arrive moments later and handcuff the suspect.
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After being restrained, Tomlian appears to characterize the incident as self-defense, saying, “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.”
As officers lead him away, he says, “I apologize, officer. I was backed into a corner.”
UT Tyler President Dr. Julie V. Philley confirmed in a statement that the confrontation occurred during a Turning Point USA student event.
Stephen Redic is shown in a booking photo released by the Laconia Police Department in New Hampshire on Nov. 4, 2026. He faces misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges after a viral video appeared to show him slapping a Turning Point Action member. (Laconia Police Department)
“An individual who is not a UT Tyler student assaulted three people,” Philley said. “UT Tyler police responded immediately and arrested the individual.”
Tomlian remains held at the Smith County jail, according to booking records. He has also been barred from university property.
“Everyone has the right to free speech, and violence will not be tolerated at this university,” Philley said.
On Election Day, New Hampshire police arrested a 70-year-old poet accused of slapping a Turning Point Action volunteer across the face outside a polling location. That confrontation, involving an affiliated nonprofit, was also captured on video.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated last year during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, the suspect in that case, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in June 2028.