Details Emerge from Brawl at ICE Protest in Texas
New information has come to light regarding a confrontation at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest in Texas between a man wearing a MAGA hat and a student who seems to be in high school. The incident took place earlier this week.
Buda Police reported that Chad Michael Watts, a 45-year-old from Kyle, was charged on Tuesday with two counts of assault resulting in death, classified as a Class A misdemeanor.
Police indicated that students from Mo Johnson High School and Gene Johnson High School gathered for a protest—described as a “strike”—Monday afternoon. Officers were dispatched to the scene shortly before 3 p.m. Buda is located around 20 minutes southwest of Austin.
Upon arrival, law enforcement received a report that a female juvenile was involved in a dispute with an adult male in a vehicle, which escalated into a larger confrontation. Subsequent investigations indicated that Watts was a significant instigator in the altercation.
Interestingly, Officer Matt Schema from Buda Police commented that there seemed to be missteps on both sides. He mentioned that the conflict stemmed from differing views on immigration, which led to a verbal disagreement. It was noted that during the back-and-forth, the boy kicked the man’s truck. This prompted the man to exit the vehicle, leading to a physical confrontation.
Police are now contemplating prosecuting the boys who were involved in the brawl, stating their commitment to a thorough investigation to ensure accountability.
Watts was taken to jail on Tuesday and released the following day after posting two bonds of $2,500 each. According to jail records, he does not have any prior convictions for violent offenses.
As for the video evidence, as of now, no footage has been made public showing the events leading up to the incident between the adult and the juvenile inside the car. There are various clips making rounds online that depict an adult male appearing to swing at a woman, who moves from the street to the sidewalk.
Another video captured nearby shows the man, identified as wearing a MAGA hat, pushing back against the woman, who grabs the hat during a scuffle. A more extensive clip reveals a chaotic scene in which at least a dozen individuals, presumed to be high school students, are seen punching and kicking the man until he manages to escape back to his vehicle. Shouts like “What do you mean?” and “Get him!” filled the air, along with exclamations against ICE.
In a particularly dramatic moment, as the man retreated to his car, he was taunted with comments suggesting he could face further violence if he stayed.
