The university removed the student after Gov. Abbott called for expulsion over a video mocking the conservative political commentator’s assassination.
SAN ANTONIO — A Texas State student is no longer attending the university, according to the school, which said he had been expelled hours after Gov. Greg Abbott pressured leaders while a video purporting to show the student mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination went viral.
The video was posted on X by an account with nearly a quarter of a million followers. In the footage – which the X user says was taken at a Texas State University event hosted by a local chapter of Turning Point USA, which Kirk co-founded – a college-aged man can be heard saying “Charlie Kirk got hit in the neck” while slapping his neck and appearing to pantomime the moment the conservative political commentator was shot at a Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10.
The man is then seen climbing a nearby statue and imitating the killing once more before spitting on the ground, walking away and saying “F*** that (N-word).”
Abbott reposted the video Tuesday morning, calling for the student’s immediate expulsion.
“Hey, Texas State. This conduct is not accepted at our schools. Expel this student immediately. Mocking assassination must have consequences,” the governor wrote.
On Tuesday afternoon, Texas State posted the following statement on social media from President Dr. Kelly Damphousse:
“I am aware of the disturbing video that was taken at an event on our San Marcos campus on Monday. I have directed university officials to take immediate steps to identify the individual in the video. Behavior that trivializes or promotes violence is reprehensible and violates the values of TXST. It will not be tolerated. If this individual is found to be affiliated with TXST, appropriate action will be taken. Let me be clear: expressions that glorify violence or murder have no place on our campuses.”
Texas State later said they identified the person in the video and said he was no longer with the school.
This is just one of the most recent incidents regarding social media posts about the death of Kirk. There have been a string of similar events that have occurred across the state and in surrounding counties, including the firing of a Comal County first responder and an investigation into a Jourdanton ISD teacher.
Earlier this week, Abbott said that more than 100 Texas educators were under investigation for comments related to Kirk’s killing. On Monday, Abbott said any teacher whose actions “called for or incited violence” would have their teaching certification suspended, making them ineligible to work in Texas public schools.
That comes after Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the formation of committees to study bias and free speech at university amid a firestorm of criticism from conservative lawmakers on statements made by university faculty and students, according to the Texas Tribune.