A conservative student at the University of Utah says a frightening encounter with a far-left agitator exposed what he called the growing radicalism on college campuses, and he welcomed the arrest of the man accused of threatening to shoot him during a public tabling event.
Riley Beesley, a student at University of Utah and vice chairman of the Utah Federation of College Republicans, described the incident in an interview with Fox News Digital. Beesley said the confrontation occurred on January 12 while he and other students were tabling outdoors and engaging passersby in open political debate.
The event was hosted by Reawaken USA, a relatively new conservative organization that visits college campuses to encourage dialogue. Beesley said the setup was similar to debate-style tabling events organized by groups such as Turning Point USA.
According to Beesley, the situation escalated when a 21-year-old man identified as Dean Stewart began shouting at the conservative students. Beesley said Stewart invoked the name of slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk while issuing what he interpreted as a violent threat.
“And soon after he declared to us, ‘you should die,’ followed by, ‘I am going to Kirk you,’” Beesley said. He added that the statement could only reasonably be understood as a threat to shoot or kill the students.
Beesley said the encounter became even more disturbing as Stewart walked away. According to his account, Stewart positioned himself directly in front of several campus police officers and began gesturing with his arms as if aiming a rifle at the group.
“He gestured with his arms in a manner mimicking aiming a rifle at us, thrusting them enthusiastically, while shouting, ‘you should die’ and calling us ‘Nazi pigs,’” Beesley said, adding that officers appeared to witness the behavior.
Another student who attended the tabling event previously told Fox News Digital that Stewart said he hoped the conservative students got “Kirked,” reinforcing the perception that the remarks were tied to violence.
Stewart was arrested shortly after the incident. Jail records and the university confirmed that he was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct, making threats, and disobeying a lawful order. The university released a statement describing the disruption and confirming that Stewart told a member of Reawaken USA that he should be shot in the neck while repeatedly making rifle-shooting gestures.
Beesley said the conduct clearly crossed the line from heated rhetoric into dangerous intimidation.
“You’re aiming a gun at somebody and acting as if you’re motioning to shoot them. It’s profoundly awful,” he said.
The incident struck especially close to home for Beesley, who said he was present at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, when suspect Tyler Robinson allegedly shot and killed Charlie Kirk. Beesley said he had been standing with Kirk just moments before the assassination.
Having witnessed that violence firsthand, Beesley said he was not shocked by the intensity of the hostility directed at conservatives on campus. He argued that the episode reflects a broader problem, where ideological hatred leads to threats and intimidation rather than debate.
According to Beesley, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how toxic campus politics can become, and why he believes universities have become breeding grounds for extremism rather than places for open exchange of ideas.
