Police in Asheville, N.C., have issued a warrant for a man who allegedly assaulted a 69-year-old woman outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday.

Richard L. Campbell of Edisto Island, S.C., is being sought in connection with an assault on Shirley Teter of Asheville.

Teter has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and needs an oxygen tank to help her breathe. After receiving a ride home from Asheville polce, Teter later went to the hospital until she was released at 2 a.m.Tuesday, she told WLOS. She suffered a sore jaw, sore ribs and had a cut on her elbow.

Teter, who said she has protested “her whole life” against issues like the Vietnam War, went to the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville to protest during Trump’s rally.

“People need to know what state of agitation (Trump) puts people in,” she said.

The Trump campaign did not respond to questions Tuesday about the incident with Teter .

“Why did I get involved yesterday, at my age? Because I ran into another situation that was sickening my heart,” Teter told WLOS on Tuesday.

Protesters met Trump supporters before the rally, and Teter said she was having fun.

"Whenever groups of them would start chanting 'Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump!' I would chant back, 'Dump! Dump! Dump! Dump!' It was kind of comical," Teter said.

After the rally, Teter said she had a verbal exchange with a Trump supporter.

“I said, ‘You better learn to speak Russian,' and I said, 'The first two words are going to be ha ha.' He stopped in his tracks, and he turned around and just cold-cocked me," Teter said.

Police said they didn't make an arrest at the time because officers didn't witness the punch.

Campbell is "vigorously denying" the charge, Breitbart reported Wednesday.

About the Author

Keep Reading

With the closure of the labor and delivery unit in St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, expectant mothers will instead be directed to deliver at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, about 45 miles away.  (Photo Illustration / Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com