A former Illinois State University teaching assistant who was fired after a viral video showed him flipping a Turning Point USA table on the school’s campus was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump in posts shared on social media earlier this week, the New York Post reports.
Derek Lopez, 27, faces federal charges and up to five years in prison if convicted in relation to several posts, including one in which he claimed, “I’m going to kill Donald Trump,” according to the criminal complaint. Lopez allegedly posted a video of a man pointing a gun at a graphic of Trump with a target on his head and also claimed that the government shutdown provided the best scenario to target the president.
“This is the perfect time to kill the president! The Secret Service is down!” Lopez allegedly commented on a post shared by the Secret Service’s Instagram account on Monday (October 27).
Lopez’s arrest came two weeks after he was fired from his teaching assistant position following an incident in which footage showed him flipping a Turning Point USA table on the Illinois State University campus. The video showed Lopez walking over to the TPUSA chapter as the group was advertising an upcoming event on campus.
“Well, you know, Jesus did it, so you know I gotta do it, right?” Lopez was heard saying before flipping the table, which resulted in pins and flyers rocketing into the air.
“Thanks guys, have a great day,” he said before walking away.
Lopez was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property charges in relation to the Turning Point USA incident.
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