Man charged after alleged assault at “No Kings” protest in Bloomington
Published: March 30th 2026
BLOOMINGTON MN: A man is facing charges of third-degree assault and committing a crime while wearing or possessing a bullet-resistant vest following an alleged assault during a “No Kings” protest in Bloomington, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers with the Bloomington Police Department were dispatched on March 28, 2026, to the intersection of American Boulevard and Penn Avenue South on a report of an assault. The area had multiple people gathered for a “No Kings” protest.
The complaint states that the defendant, identified as Zak X, was present and engaging in counter-protest activity, during which he was yelling at protesters. The complaint states the defendant was also recording and live-streaming video to social media.
At one point, the complaint states, the defendant pointed his camera toward a child. The child’s father, identified in the complaint as the victim, approached and pushed the defendant’s phone away. The complaint states the defendant then punched the victim in the nose.
The victim was transported to a hospital and was diagnosed with a broken nose that will require surgery, according to the complaint.
Officers arrested the defendant at the scene. The complaint states officers located a can of OC spray on him and that he was wearing body armor under his sweatshirt. The complaint also states the defendant had injuries to his knuckles and received medical attention.
According to the complaint, officers obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s vehicle, which was parked nearby. The complaint states officers recovered a loaded Sabre airsoft gun, projectile packages, THC cigarettes, a pepper spray keychain, gloves described as reinforced over the knuckle and finger areas, and a black face mask. The complaint states the gloves were consistent with those worn during the incident.
In a post-Miranda statement, the complaint states the defendant admitted to punching the victim but said he acted in self-defense, claiming the victim “lunged” toward him. The complaint states the defendant said he was wearing body armor and carrying a chemical irritant for protection because he is a “public figure” and believed people wanted to harm him.
The complaint states video posted to social media by the defendant and a second video recorded by a bystander show the victim moving toward the defendant and making a motion toward the phone. The complaint states that after this, the defendant took a fighting stance and made a punching motion toward the victim. The complaint states the defendant had space behind him to retreat prior to throwing the punch.
Court records show the defendant has a pending fifth-degree assault case from December 27, 2025.
This article is based on allegations contained in a criminal complaint. Charges are not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.