Charlie Kirk was speaking at an event yesterday (10 September) when he was fatally shot in the neck, with US President Trump blaming the ‘radical left’ for what has been described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as a ‘political assassination’.
Kirk, who was the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, was on the first day of his ‘The American Comeback Tour’.
He was speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University when an assailant fired at him from a roof, officials said.
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Trump later confirmed that Kirk had died, aged 31, writing on Truth Social: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Turning Point had billed the event as a ‘lively discussion of Freedom & America’, saying: “Don't agree with Charlie? Great, you go to the front of the line.”
Just moments before he was shot, Kirk had been in the midst of a debate about gun violence and mass shootings.
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One of the audience members asked him: “Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?”
Kirk replied: “Too many.”
The same audience member then responded to say that the number was five, before asking how many mass shooters there had been in America over the last 10 years.
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk then asked.
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They would prove to be his final words, as a gun shot rang out in the crowd.
A manhunt has begun to find the killer and the Department of Public Safety said the ‘shooting is still an active investigation’.
Trump has since condemned the attack, saying in a video message from the Oval Office: “Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror.
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“Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America.
“He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people. He's a martyr for truth and freedom and there's never been anyone who was so respected by youth.
“Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven.”
The Republican leader went on to say that his prayers are with Kirk's wife, Erika, their two young children, and his entire family.
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He continued: “We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain. This a dark moment for America.
“Charlie Kirk travelled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone in good faith, debate.
“His mission was to bring young people into the political process which he did better than anybody ever, to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense.
“On campuses nationwide he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humour and grace.”
Trump said: “It’s time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year in the most hateful and despicable way possible.
“For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful American's like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals.”
He warned: “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today. And it must stop right now.
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organisation that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement, officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country.”
Topics: US News, Charlie Kirk
Jess Hardiman