ANDY NGO REPORTS: Texas Trans Antifa leader unmasked after arrest at RNC direct action

Hunter David Holmes, 23, of Midlothian, Texas, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault with bodily injury and obstructing a highway after police said he attacked multiple conservatives. Holmes is the unmasked identity of the Antifa militant known as "Doberman." He is a man who identifies as a woman and uses the name "Paige." He was born Dec. 6, 2002.

Police are also investigating whether Holmes' handgun was stolen. He has not been charged over that suspicion.

Hunter David Holmes

Hunter David Holmes' alias as "Doberman"

For several years, Holmes has used the alias and Antifa identity to organize a cell and advocate political violence. He regularly attends direct actions in full tactical gear, concealing his face beneath a helmet and goggles. He has traveled across the U.S., including to Portland, Ore., for Antifa-related activities.

In June, the FBI raided Holmes' home, but he was ultimately not charged. Holmes told the left-wing news site The Intercept that federal authorities offered him $200,000 to become an informant on Antifa, but he declined.

Holmes has made a number of threatening posts over the years.

"Trump will fall soon," he posted on X in March. "And so with the rest of the far right. It'll be nice seeing fascist brains on a wall."

In September last year, Holmes wrote on X that "antifascists will kill these f*cking ass fascists," referring to ICE and FBI officials.

He has also been accused of assault previously. At the "No Kings" leftist rally in Dallas in October last year, Holmes was in black bloc while holding an Antifa flag. A streamer accused Holmes of violently attacking him.

Before the RNC conference at the American Airlines Center, Holmes wrote under his alias on X. "We defend. By ANY means necessary," he wrote. "And remember, the second amendment is for everybody."

The Dallas area has a large network of violent Antifa militants. Evidence about the extent of that network emerged during the federal trial of North Texas Antifa members involved in the July 4, 2025 shooting ambush conspiracy targeting an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas. Four Antifa co-defendants who pleaded guilty testified against nine of their comrades about the planning and preparation that went into the attack, as well as efforts to conceal the ringleader in safe houses around the Dallas area.

In total, 16 were federally convicted and sentenced collectively to hundreds of years in prison. Holmes expressed outrage over the convictions and posted a statement online from the group's convicted ringleader.

Holmes himself also leads an Antifa cell. He is the founder and leader of the Community Liberation Brigade. During the direct action to shut down the RNC conference, Holmes' comrade Adrian Garcia was also arrested. Garcia, born July 13, 2007, was wearing a large CLB badge and a patch featuring a transgender version of a symbol used by the communist terrorist group United Freedom Front.

Adrian Garcia

According to the arrest affidavit, Garcia ignored police commands to leave the roadway and began poking and prodding officers with a flagpole. The blunt end of the flagpole struck an officer's helmet before Garcia was subdued.

Garcia was charged with obstructing a highway, assault with bodily injury and interference with public duties.

Garcia was charged with two counts of assault with bodily injury and one count of obstructing a highway.

Both men had total bail set at $15,000 each but quickly bonded out.

On Sept. 13, Holmes released a video appearing to confess to the crimes.

"I'm not sorry for protesting, and I'm not sorry for confronting the person," he said.

Andy Ngo is the author of the forthcoming investigative true-crime book, The Zizians: Inside a Trans Death Cult.