Younger was a guest of the UNT chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas.
Denton police took reports of a man being hit by a University of North Texas police vehicle Wednesday night during a campus protest for transgender rights, the department confirmed.
The WFAA learned that the victim was allegedly hit by a police vehicle driving Flower Mound's Republican Jeff Younger from a speaking engagement on the topic of criminalizing transgender-affirmed care.
Younger, who is facing off against fellow Republican Ben Bumgarner in a runoff for Texas House District 23 this November, was a guest of the UNT chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas.
According to the biography of Younger's website, under a section titled "Why I'm Running", he says that prompted him to run for office after a court battle with his ex-wife over the custody of their two children. went - one of whom is transgender. Younger, who eventually lost custody of his children, accused his ex-wife of child abuse for allowing the transition to their child.
"Despite overwhelming support from the people of Texas, the Legislature blocked all attempts to outlaw gender change surgery on children. The Texas Legislature ended the clock on my son's life," the younger's website reads.
However, polls last spring showed that many Americans, broadly speaking, do not support a law that would block medical care related to gender transitions for minors.
Younger's visit comes against the backdrop of state officials targeting the same type of transgender care for young people.
Last week, Governor Greg Abbott directed state agencies to investigate parents who sought medical care -- including puberty-blocking medication -- for their transgender children. Lawsuits have been filed to block the implementation of the directive.
When students learned that Younger was attending an event on campus, a protest was planned to take a stand against him and stand up for trans rights for Texas children, according to officials.
Denton police told the WFAA that they had obtained a report from the protester who was killed in hospital on Wednesday night. The department said the matter would be referred to some other agency for investigation and they would no longer be involved in the incident.
The UNT Police Department has yet to comment on the incident.
UNT President Neil Smatrask issued a statement to the UNT community on Thursday afternoon, detailing the events of Wednesday night's protests. He said a few hundred protesters had gathered outside the building, holding signs and raising slogans as Younger spoke in Curry Hall.
Police believe a small group of protesters affiliated with the UNT took part in "evolving the protest from peaceful to aggressive", in which the group surrounded police, hit vehicles and blocked exits. , Smatrask said.
In an effort to clear a path, officers reportedly sounded warning sirens and used emergency lights as they proceeded. It is believed that this was the moment a protester was killed, but the university said it has not confirmed that information to police.
No one else has been reported injured in the incident.
“We have always spoken of the importance of freedom of expression and have taken pride in our students’ ability to speak up for themselves and participate in nonviolent protest,” the statement from Smatrask read.
“UNT Police has worked relentlessly to create and maintain a safe environment for all students, regardless of subject, to express themselves. As always, campus safety is our top priority, and we care for our students.” Will continue to work to provide a safe environment." to continue. "We have always been a passionate community that stands up to our ideals, but last night's behavior by some individuals does not reflect the UNT I know and love."