Trump supporter, 44, is arrested for sucker-punching a protester and breaking his tooth ‘for playing the rap song F*** Donald Trump’ during a MAGA rally
A supporter of President Trump was arrested after he sucker-punched a protester in Texas for reportedly playing the song 'F*** Donald Trump.'
The Denton Police Department announced on Saturday that Jason Lata, 44, of Flower Mound, was charged with assault causing bodily injury.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Lata after a 17-second clip that surfaced on social media showed him striking the victim, Dan Royce Schochler III, around 1pm.
The incident happened outside a Buc-ee’s convenience store in Denton during a MAGA meet-up scheduled for 11.15am.
The footage begins mid-confrontation with Lata, who is not wearing a face mask, screaming at Schochler to 'turn it off!'
The song 'FDT' [F*** Donald Trump] by rappers YG and Nipsey Hussle is heard playing in the background as another Trump supporter tells the protesters 'you guys shouldn't even be here.'
Jason Lata (center) was caught on cell phone footage assaulting Dan Royce Schochler III (right) on Saturday in Denton, Texas
Schochler said he had to be taken to the hospital for treatment after he was punched by Lata (pictured) outside of Buc-ee's
'I'll f*** you up,' Lata tells Schochler before sending an unexpected punch to his face. 'Get up motherf*****!'
After a few Trump supporters intervene, Lata is corralled away as Schochler remains on the ground.
The presence of the song 'F*** Donald Trump' in the video was first pointed out by TMZ.
Hours after the incident, Denton Police Chief Frank Dixon confirmed on Twitter that the department was aware of the assault and launched an investigation.
By the time authorities arrived to the scene, Lata had fled the convenience store.
A statement said that Schochler suffered an abrasion below his right eyebrow and suffered a broken tooth.
Denton Police Chief Frank Dixon confirmed on Twitter that authorities were aware of the incident and had launched an investigation
Dan Royce Schochler III confirmed it was him in the video and added that he went to the hospital after the incident
Schochler later confirmed his injuries on Twitter, where he publicly identified himself as the victim in the video.
'Hi, yeah that’s me, the one that got punched. Gonna be fine but had to go to the hospital,' he wrote.
Schochler set up a GoFundMe on Saturday to raise money for his medical bills. He added that any money leftover would be donated to Denton’s Food not Bombs and the Audre Lorde Project.
'I was assaulted for peacefully protesting and standing up for myself. Any help paying my medical bills would be greatly appreciated,' he wrote in an accompanying message.
The fundraiser has so far raised $4,629 of its $5,000 goal in 16 hours.
Lata was placed in the City of Denton Jail and had bail set at $15,000.
