The Gateway Pundit reported that students manning a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) table at Illinois State University (ISU) watched as an angry man flipped their table over and tore down flags ahead of an event featuring Alex Stein. The hater of free speech, 27-year-old graduate student Derek Lopez, was identified as a teaching assistant(TA) at the university.
WATCH: A teacher assistant at Illinois State University flipped over a @tpusastudents table and tore down flyers promoting an upcoming @alexstein99 event.
@jessburback @tpusastudents pic.twitter.com/ydhIfcEa24
— FRONTLINES TPUSA (@FrontlinesTPUSA) October 17, 2025
Following the incident, Lopez was arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Damage to Property.
Illinois State University Police Department (ISUPD) shared detail of the arrest on social media noting, “On October 17, 2025, after an investigation by the Illinois State University Police Department (ISUPD), 27-year-old Derek Lopez, of El Paso, IL, was arrested in Normal on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Damage to Property. Lopez is a graduate student and teaching assistant at Illinois State University.”
The Vidette, the student newspaper for ISU, reported that Lopez was“relieved of his position.”
Lopez’s outburst was only the beginning.
The New York Post reports that Lopez has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill President Trump.
Derek Lopez, 27, was nabbed after he allegedly spewed a slew of vile threats on social media earlier this week — including one where he boldly declared, “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump,” according to the feds.
In one post over the weekend, Lopez allegedly posted a video of a man pointing a gun at a graphic of Trump with a target on his head, the criminal complaint states.
He also cited the ongoing government shutdown as the perfect scenario to target Trump.
Lopez was hit with federal charges over the alleged threats and faces up to five years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
Following the arrest, FBI director Kash Patel noted, “The threats against President Trump allegedly posted by this individual are heinous and have no place in our society.”
“Let this be a message: anyone who threatens violence against public officials or any American will be found and brought to justice.”
The El Paso, Illinois Police Department shared on Facebook, “On the evening of October 28, 2025, at approximately 7:38 PM, law enforcement officials from the El Paso Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collaborated on a traffic stop at 620 W. Main Street.”
“The driver, identified as Derek Lopez of El Paso, was wanted on a federal warrant for making threats against the President.”
“Lopez was apprehended without resistance and subsequently transported to the El Paso Police Department, where he was questioned by FBI and Secret Service agents.”
“Following the interview, Lopez was taken to the Woodford County Jail, where he was booked and placed under federal detention. Woodford County Animal Control also assisted at the time Lopez was taken into custody, due to his dog being in the car with him.”
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