Texas State University student expelled after mock reenactment of Charlie Kirk's assassination; GoFundMe fundraiser launched
University cites violation of campus values as a student is expelled; the student later launched a fundraiser and described safety concerns and personal justifications.
A Texas State University student has been expelled after video surfaced showing him mockingly reenacting Charlie Kirk's assassination during a campus memorial. Devion Canty Jr. was dismissed following the incident, which drew swift backlash on social media and prompted a university response.
Video footage from a memorial hosted by Turning Point USA shows Canty slapping his neck and acting as if he were recoiling from a gunshot, then moving through the crowd and climbing the base of a statue while repeating the gesture. In the clip, Canty mutters "f*** that n****" as he walks away, and a separate voice in the footage can be heard telling him he is likely to be expelled. The university described the incident as a violation of its values and a disruption to the campus community.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the act and called for Canty to be expelled, saying that mocking assassination must have consequences. TXST President Dr. Kelly Damphousse confirmed Canty’s dismissal and emphasized that the university would not tolerate behavior that mocks or promotes violence on campus, stating, "I will not tolerate behavior that mocks, trivializes, or promotes violence on our campuses. It is antithetical to our TXST values." Damphousse also sought to reassure the student body that Canty’s actions did not reflect the broader student community or the university’s values, and urged a measured response and dialogue on campus.
Canty later published a GoFundMe page titled "going back to txst" in which he described the withdrawal as a choice made for safety and the well‑being of the campus community. He wrote that the public narrative cast him as an "out-of-control, disrespectful young Black man" while arguing that he is a passionate student who made a mistake in the heat of the moment after being repeatedly disrespected—spit on, subjected to racial slurs, and witnessing women being cursed at and pushed around. He asserted that his actions were not aimed at harming anyone and expressed a desire to pursue his education elsewhere or to be welcomed back to TXST someday, depending on the steps he would take.
The university’s leadership stressed that Canty’s actions were an isolated incident and not representative of TXST students or organizations. Damphousse urged the campus community to avoid assigning blame to innocent students and to engage in respectful dialogue about safety and inclusivity in the wake of the incident.
The episode occurred within the broader national dialogue over free speech on college campuses, and it coincided with remarks and reactions from both political sides. The House later passed a resolution to honor Charlie Kirk in a 310-58 vote. On social media and in public comment, figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued for protecting free expression while condemning violence, a stance that drew counterpoints from conservative commentators including Marjorie Taylor Greene. The incident underscores ongoing tensions at the intersection of political expression, campus culture, and safety in U.S. politics.