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 marks the latest in a series of confrontations involving the conservative youth organization, whose founder was assassinated last year.
Smith County booking records name the suspect as Ciro Tomlian.
Video from the incident shows a man wearing a cape and a 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 attack occurred.
Tomlian faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault causing bodily injury. He is accused of striking Turning Point USA students with the cane.
A split image shows Ciro Tomlian’s booking photo alongside a still from video showing the incident involving three University of Texas at Tyler students participating in a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (Smith County Sheriff’s Office, @FrontlinesTPUSA/@Lis_Furguson/@AlannaDiane_)
The video captures the final moments of the confrontation and Tomlian’s arrest by campus police. He grabs an American flag, throws it over his shoulder, gestures with 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.” He then raises the cane and takes a swing in her direction.
The man identified as Tomlian again shouts, “back up!” while the woman tells another person to “just back up.”
A male voice from off-camera then tells Tomlian, “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)
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Tomlian swings the cane once more, apparently hitting the person speaking, before another individual runs in and takes it from him. Police arrive moments later and put the suspect in handcuffs.
After being restrained, Tomlian appears to characterize the confrontation 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 taken by the Laconia Police Department in New Hampshire on Wednesday, 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 records. He has also been barred from the university’s 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 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.
