A New York high school teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation after posting messages on social media that celebrated the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, the Naples Central School District said.
Patrick Freivald, a physics and robotics teacher at the district, wrote on Facebook that Kirk was “interrupted by a bullet to the neck” and added, “Good riddance to bad garbage,” according to posts reviewed by Fox News Digital. The district said it learned of the posts after the news of Kirk’s death and has received numerous complaints from community members.
Naples Superintendent Kevin Swartz, in an email to families obtained by Fox News Digital, said the district was “shocked and saddened” by the tragedy and noted the staff member had made multiple personal social media posts referencing the incident. "Since that time, we have heard from many community members regarding concerns and outrage related to these posts. I want to be very direct in saying to you that all of your voices have been heard," Swartz wrote.
Freivald’s posts included additional commentary and a photograph of himself wearing a shirt that read, “IS HE DEAD YET?” He also posted that Kirk had “took a dirt nap” and later suggested the death had been confirmed. In other posts he used wordplay and footnotes to mock Kirk’s death, including references to “high-velocity lead deficiency.”
Freivald, who is also a self-published horror novelist and runs a small business selling specialty honey products, has previously attracted controversy for his online postings. In August, he used explicit language to criticize supporters of former President Donald Trump and posted that he had job security tied to tenure and union protections. He has written several novels and short-story collections, and on his author blog has defended writing that provokes strong reactions.
The district did not provide further details about the scope or expected timeline of the investigation. Freivald and the school district did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
School officials have placed the teacher on administrative leave while they review the posts and community complaints. The district's initial statement emphasized its awareness of families' concerns and said it would address the matter through established personnel and safety procedures. The incident follows national attention on the killing of a prominent public figure and the varied reactions that have followed on social media.
No criminal charges or law enforcement actions related to the teacher's posts were disclosed by the district. The investigation will determine whether the posts violated district policies or professional standards.
Freivald’s public materials indicate he promotes his writing through a small press and sells products through a separate business. His novels include works of horror and dark fantasy; some of his recent releases were produced by a small publisher that handles much of his output. The district’s inquiry and any personnel actions will determine his employment status going forward.