A Texas man has been arrested after allegedly attacking a group of teenagers who were protesting against the ongoing immigration raids.
According to KXAN, 45-year-old Chad Michael Watts was arrested in Buda, Texas on Tuesday. He’s charged with two counts of assault causing bodily injury, police said.
Video shows 45-year-old Chad Michael Watts fighting two high school students
The video clips show Watts getting out of his truck and confronting students at Johnson High School as they were protesting ICE. Watts is seen targeting one girl in particular as he pushed to the ground. Several students jumped into the brawl to protect the girl and eventually forced Watts to get back into his car.
“After further thorough investigation, it was determined that Watts was the primary aggressor in the physical altercation,” Buda Police said, per KXAN. “Probable cause was established for two offenses of Assault Causing Bodily Injury, a Class A misdemeanor.”
UPDATE:
— good morning, bad news (@GoodMornBadNews) February 3, 2026
Kyle, TX — A Trump supporter in a MAGA hat physically attacked a teenage girl at a student anti-ICE protest, without provocation. According to eyewitnesses, “He went straight to attack the girl." Other high school-aged student protesters fought back, forcing him to… pic.twitter.com/0V7dyFnWmq
Investigators are also looking at additional videos for more details on the brawl.
“We’re trying to get to the original videos and have those submitted by those people that took the videos so we can have a solid case and have that chain of custody for our evidence,” Buda’s public information officer Matt Schima told KXAN.
According to Schima, the specific video reviewed by police doesn’t show what happened before the attack.
“That videos start at the 10 second mark. What happened in the first 10 seconds? That’s very important as to what happened for the rest of the video,” Schima said. “So I think a lot of the public is really taking the last part of the situation and they’re making their judgments. So what we have to do to have a solid investigation is what initiated all of this.”
Police say they were told that the confrontation started with a verbal argument between Watts and the teenage girl. When police arrived at the scene, the Watts was already gone.
Witnesses come forward
Jaden Fox, a witness who was driving near the protests, said he saw Watts “screaming at these kids.” Fox said he was driving with his wife when the couple realized “something was getting heightened.”
The couple was seen in videos as they pulled over and tried to separate Watts from the students. Fox also said he was still worried after the brawl appeared to be resolved.
“In my mind, he is still very dangerous. I don’t know if he has a weapon on him, or in his car or what. And I don’t want these kids to get in trouble for doing something potentially more serious than anyone is meaning to,” Fox told KXAN.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra condemned Watts’ actions in a statement provided to Fox 7: “No matter one’s political views, an adult bears a clear responsibility to exercise restraint, especially in the presence of children. Violence or intimidation directed at a minor—particularly during a lawful, peaceful demonstration—has no place in a constitutional republic that depends on the rule of law rather than force.”
