Texas authorities have identified Ciro Tomlian as 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 attack involving the conservative youth group, whose founder was assassinated last year.
Video shows a man in a cape and round-brimmed hat throwing an American flag to the ground and swinging a cane at people nearby. Authorities say Tomlian is a former student who was not enrolled at the university when the incident occurred.
He faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault causing bodily injury. He is accused of hitting TPUSA students with the cane.
The video appears to capture the end of the confrontation and Tomlian’s arrest by campus police. He picks up an American flag, tosses it over his shoulder and makes an obscene gesture toward the students. He can be heard telling them to back off and calling them fascists.
A woman off-camera tells him to stay away. Tomlian raises the cane and swings it in her direction, then shouts for people to back up. After a man says no one is afraid of him, Tomlian swings again and appears to strike the speaker. Another person runs in and takes the cane. Police arrive shortly afterward and handcuff him.
After his arrest, Tomlian appears to describe the confrontation as self-defense, saying, “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.” As officers lead him away, he apologizes and says he was backed into a corner.
UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley confirmed the incident took place during a TPUSA student event. She said a person who was not a university student assaulted three people, and campus police responded immediately and made an arrest.
Tomlian remains in custody at the Smith County jail, according to booking records. He has also been barred from university grounds.
“Everyone has the right to free speech, and violence will not be tolerated at this university,” Philley said.
On Election Day, police in New Hampshire arrested a 70-year-old poet accused of slapping a volunteer for Turning Point Action, a nonprofit affiliated with TPUSA, outside a polling place. That encounter was also captured on video.
TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was killed at Utah Valley University during an event last year. Tyler Robinson, the suspect in that case, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in June 2028.
