Charlie Kirk, the director of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University. The political assassination shocked the United States and raised concerns about social divisions.
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and executive director of the nonprofit Turning Point USA, was shot during a public event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
The 31-year-old victim, a father of two, later died from his injuries.
The incident occurred while Kirk was participating in an activity at his “Prove Me Wrong” booth. Witnesses and video footage showed that he was shot in the neck.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox told the media: “I want to be very clear: this was a political assassination.” He also emphasized: “I want to remind you that we still have the death penalty in Utah.”
video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed a suspect being arrested in Orem, Utah. The governor also said: “Police are still investigating. The campus will be closed for the remainder of the day.”
According to Newsweek, a university spokesperson said a “single shot was fired from the roof of a nearby building, approximately 200 yards away,” about 20 minutes after the event began.
In a statement posted on X, Utah Valley University confirmed: “At approximately 12:10 p.m. today, a shot was fired toward the guest speaker, Charlie Kirk. He was hit and taken away by security at the scene. The suspect is now in custody.”
On the social network Truth Social, US President Donald Trump called for: “Let’s all pray for Charlie Kirk, who was just shot… God bless him!”, calling Kirk “a great person from start to finish.” Vice President J.D. Vance also wrote on X, urging people to “pray for Charlie Kirk.”
Charlie Kirk rose to prominence in 2012 when he co-founded Turning Point USA, which describes itself as “a national student movement to identify, organize, and empower young people to advance the principles of free markets and limited government.”
He has amassed a large social media following, frequently debating liberal pundits. Kirk publicly supported Donald Trump before the 2016 US election and will continue to do so in the 2024 election.
He has also emerged as a vocal opponent of “woke” policies, and has criticized Washington’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Commenting on the Utah shooting, Russian presidential adviser Kirill Dmitriev wrote on his Telegram channel: “The attempted murder of a person who calls for common sense and opposes hysteria shows the depth of divisions in American society.”
While the online community was still in shock, a warm image somewhat eased the anxiety: Emma Watson visited Mr. Charles’s wife and two young children early in the morning.
According to witnesses, Emma brought a basket of flowers and a handwritten card, expressing her sadness. She spent time talking to Mr. Charles’s wife, comforting her and helping to take care of the two children.
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