Two arrested over alleged plot to throw objects at Turning Point USA event in New Mexico
University of New Mexico police arrested Kevin Castro and Harrison Magnus on Monday 2 November after a Turning Point USA campus event. They face charges including conspiracy and disorderly conduct; Castro is accused of throwing a lacrosse ball toward the crowd.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2University of New Mexico Police Department officers arrested two men, Kevin Castro and Harrison Magnus, on Monday 2 November after a Turning Point USA event on campus, according to KRQE as relayed by Fox News and Breitbart. Fox NewsR “Kevin Castro and Harrison Magnus were both arrested Monday by the University of New Mexico Police Department after attending a Turning Point USA event on campus, according to KRQE.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “Castro and Magnus were both arrested on Monday, November 2, by the University of New Mexico Police Department.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Court documents allege Castro hurled a lacrosse ball toward the crowd, nearly striking someone; he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct and conspiracy. Fox NewsR “Castro allegedly hurled a lacrosse ball toward the crowd, nearly striking someone, according to court documents.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “Kevin Castro was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Magnus is alleged to have talked with Castro about plans to throw objects into the crowd, and was charged with conspiracy, disorderly conduct and concealing identity. Fox NewsR “Magnus was allegedly talking to Castro regarding plans to throw objects into the crowd, and was arrested on charges of conspiracy, disorderly conduct, and concealing identity.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 2The court documents did not name the event, but the university's Turning Point USA chapter hosted a "Prove Me Wrong" event that day featuring Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins. Fox NewsR “While court documents didn't name the event, the university's TPUSA chapter hosted a "Prove Me Wrong" event that day featuring Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “While court documents did not name the organization” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Video posted online by the Turning Point USA chapter appears to show Magnus shouting at the crowd as police handcuff and lead him away. Fox NewsR “Video posted online by the Turning Point USA chapter shows Magnus appearing to yell at the crowd as he's being taken away by police officers who placed him in handcuffs.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “Video posted online appears to show Magnus shouting expletives at the crowd” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2A University of New Mexico spokesman confirmed the arrests to Fox News, saying the university upholds freedom of expression and will not tolerate threats, violence or other conduct that violates the law or university policies. Fox NewsR “"The university upholds freedom of expression and will not tolerate threats, violence or other conduct that violates the law or university policies."” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “a University of New Mexico spokesman, who confirmed the arrests, told Fox News.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1Fox News reached out to an attorney for Magnus, and it was not immediately clear whether Castro had an attorney; neither man's response to the allegations is reported. Fox NewsR “Fox News Digital reached out to an attorney for Magnus. It was not immediately clear if Castro had an attorney.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2Both outlets pair the case with an unrelated incident the following day in Laconia, New Hampshire, where 70-year-old poet Stephen Redic was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct after allegedly slapping a Turning Point Action member outside a polling location. Fox NewsR “a 70-year-old poet allegedly slapped a Turning Point Action member in the face outside a New Hampshire polling location in an unrelated incident.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “charged with one count of simple assault and one count of disorderly conduct after Laconia police reviewed video evidence and several witness accounts.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the arrests as an alleged plot against a Turning Point USA event, drawing on KRQE and court documents. Fox News is more procedural; Breitbart places the case within a narrative of hostility toward the organisation since Charlie Kirk's killing.
- Emphasis
- Charges, the lacrosse ball, the video of Magnus being led away, the UNM statement, and the separate New Hampshire polling-place incident.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports the suspects' own account, their motives or affiliations, or any comment from Turning Point USA on this case. Breitbart's headline states a 'Plot to Attack' as fact, while Fox's text frames it as alleged.
- Charged language
- “deranged leftists”“unhinged leftist”“horrific murder”“Plot to Attack”
What every side reports
- Kevin Castro and Harrison Magnus were arrested by University of New Mexico police on Monday 2 November.
- Castro is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct and conspiracy; Magnus with conspiracy, disorderly conduct and concealing identity.
- The university's Turning Point USA chapter hosted a "Prove Me Wrong" event with Kristan Hawkins that day.
- A UNM spokesman confirmed the arrests and said the university will not tolerate violence.
Where accounts differ
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Characterisation of the suspects and the wider context
- Right
- Fox News describes the case in attributed terms and calls the New Hampshire incident unrelated. Breitbart says Turning Point USA is attacked by "deranged leftists" and calls the Laconia suspect an "unhinged leftist", though neither article reports the arrested men's politics or motives.
University of New Mexico organisation
A spokesman confirmed the arrests and said the university supports free expression, is committed to a safe, healthy and inclusive environment, and will not tolerate threats, violence or other unlawful conduct.
“UNM remains committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive environment for all who learn, work and live on our campuses,” — Fox News
Turning Point USA organisation
The university's chapter hosted the "Prove Me Wrong" event and posted the video of Magnus being detained; the coverage gives no separate statement from the organisation on this case.
“Video posted online by the Turning Point USA chapter shows Magnus appearing to yell at the crowd” — Fox News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Turning Point USA event at University of New Mexico ends with two arrests and a string of charges
Neutral Attributed, procedural account of the arrests and charges, with the UNM statement and a note on the unrelated New Hampshire incident.
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Police Arrest 2 Men for Plot to Attack Turning Point USA Event at University of New Mexico
Alarmist Recasts the same facts as part of attacks on Turning Point USA by 'leftists' since Charlie Kirk's killing, with loaded descriptions.
- 7 Nov 14:00 First Fox NewsR Turning Point USA event at University of New Mexico ends with two arrests and a string of charges
- 9 Nov 17:54 +51h 54m BreitbartR Police Arrest 2 Men for Plot to Attack Turning Point USA Event at University of New Mexico
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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