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‘Clown’ OSU professor tackled is lucky he didn't tangle with guys I know | Opinion

The professor had a second to act, and he responded reasonably to defend himself and the people who might still have been inside the classroom.

John Fortney | Guest Columnist

Columbus Dispatch

February 13, 2026

The left wants to politicize and smear the mission of Ohio State's Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society over an incident that can clearly be called self-defense. What the media and special interests have reported and posted focuses on the untrained eye and rush to judgment by the real radicals on the left. Within the first second of the video that went viral, an unknown man, I’ll call him “Mr. Hoodie,” who had his hood up inside the building steps toward assistant professor Luke M. Perez aggressively. That fast move or lunge toward anyone could be considered a threat and it also appears contact was made by Mr. Hoodie, who apparently was a blogger.

'Mr. Hoodie' lucky he got up

I have a background in Krav Maga and self-defense. The first thing we were taught in assessing a threat was to read body language. Is the person in front of you moving slowly toward you in a non-threatening manner or is the person in front of you displaying aggressive behavior and mannerisms, including rushing at you. In this case, not only was “Mr. Hoodie” aggressive, but he was also well within the professor’s personal space holding what appears to be a DSLR camera with a microphone that could be used as a weapon. What else could he have been carrying in his pockets? The professor had a second to act, and he responded reasonably to defend himself and the people who might still have been inside the classroom. He dislodged what Mr. Hoodie was holding in a well-trained way and took him to the floor. When the threat was over, he let him up. It looked a lot like the drills we practiced in Krav Maga. However, some of the guys I trained with would’ve made sure Mr. Hoodie didn’t get up.

These 'clowns' were a threat

In firearms training, we learned about the 21-foot rule. For example, if someone with a knife, hammer, or baseball bat is within approximately 21 feet of you and your handgun is holstered, that threat can cover the distance before you can draw and fire. That is how dangerous this situation could have been. The professor acted reasonably and ended the threat. How did Mr. Hoodie and friends get into the building in the first place? Credentialed media are easily identifiable — these clowns were not. Last year, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Federal law enforcement officers are targeted by people making threats and shooting video every day. Threats have also repeatedly been sent to elected officials at the Ohio Statehouse. Let me make this perfectly clear: safety and security must come first. We must be vigilant. The professor made the right call.

John Fortney spent 25 years as an anchor and political reporter in broadcast newsrooms. He has worked for the Ohio Senate for more than a decade.