
An Illinois State University graduate teaching assistant fired this month after overturning a Turning Point USA table on campus has now been arrested for posts threatening President Donald Trump’s life.
Derek Lopez, 27, was arrested after he allegedly posted threats on social media earlier this week, including one stating “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump,” reported the New York Post, which reviewed the criminal complaint.
Lopez allegedly cited the ongoing government shutdown as the right time to target Trump while the secret service is “down” and “posted a video of a man pointing a gun at a graphic of Trump with a target on his head,” the Post reported.
The suspect had already been told by the feds that certain threats of violence are not protected by the First Amendment, according to Fox News, which reported:
The affidavit details disturbing social media posts following the Oct. 9 interview.
A video on Instagram from Oct. 26 under the account @Derek200p, which the FBI says belongs to Lopez, showed an unknown male cocking a pistol and walking down a street. The unknown male then points the gun, and an image of Trump wearing a crown with red crosshairs on his forehead pops up. That post was still live on the Instagram page at the time of this writing.
According to the FBI, an Oct. 27 X post from the account @Derek200pz, Lopez said “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump, idgaf.” That post is also still live on Lopez’s account.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that 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 arrest comes after Lopez made headlines for flipping over a TPUSA table at Illinois State University, saying: “Jesus did it, so I’ve got to do it too, right? Thanks guys, have a great day.”
After allegedly disrupting another student group’s table, Lopez was arrested “on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Damage to Property,” according to a Facebook post from the ISU Police Department.
“Over the last week Lopez is alleged to have disrupted two informational tabling events being hosted by a registered student organization. ISUPD was contacted by the registered student organization following the escalation leading to an investigation, identification, and arrest,” the police department stated.
As for the latest federal charges involving President Trump, Lopez “faces up to five years in prison if convicted,” the New York Post reported.
MORE: Illinois State U. faculty member fired after flipping Turning Point table, saying ‘Jesus did it’
		
		
		
