Washington — Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist and influential voice for younger conservatives within the digital age, died Wednesday after he was shot within the neck at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah. He was 31.
Kirk, a father of two, was shot as he was chatting with college students at an occasion for Turning Level USA, a corporation for younger conservatives he co-founded in 2012.
“The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is lifeless,” President Trump wrote. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the US of America higher than Charlie. He was liked and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s not with us.”
In keeping with video shared on social media, an viewers member requested Kirk about mass shootings within the U.S. earlier than Kirk was hit within the neck and slumped in his chair. Two eyewitnesses informed CBS Information a big quantity of blood poured from his neck. He was rushed to a close-by hospital, the place he was later pronounced lifeless.
The gunman continues to be at massive, based on police.
In a information convention earlier, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned there was a “individual of curiosity in custody” in reference to Kirk’s taking pictures. That individual was later launched following an interrogation with police.
Individually, a unique individual was taken into custody “shortly after the taking pictures,” however he was launched “after we recognized that he didn’t match the taking pictures suspect and was not an correct individual of curiosity,” based on Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason. That individual was later booked into county jail for obstruction of justice, Mason mentioned.
“There are not any present ties to the taking pictures with both of those people. There may be an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter,” the Utah Division of Public Security mentioned in a information launch Wednesday night time.
Mr. Trump, who survived an assassination try at an outside political occasion final yr, informed the New York Put up, “He was a really, superb buddy of mine and he was an amazing individual.” Democrats and Republicans alike expressed their outrage, prayers and concern on social media upon information of the taking pictures.
OLIVIER TOURON/AFP through Getty Photos
Kirk, an in depth Trump ally, was the important thing to energizing and mobilizing the youth vote for the president all through his campaigns. He was essential to the Trump floor recreation effort for voter turnout and constructed out important components of the Trump marketing campaign in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Kirk stood by the president throughout what may very well be described as his political winter, quickly after he introduced his second presidential marketing campaign, when skeptics doubted he may change into president once more.
Kirk additionally made it his mission to interact extra younger individuals in politics, and register them to vote. Kirk was additionally an in depth buddy of the president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr.
Kirk spoke at Mr. Trump’s inauguration parade in January, and the president appointed him to the Air Drive Academy Board of Guests in March.
“For these of you which have at all times had the president’s again all through these final couple of years, after we have been at our darkest second 4 years in the past, that is your victory,” Kirk mentioned as he opened his speech at Mr. Trump’s inaugural parade.
However Kirk’s politics weren’t with out controversy. Kirk pushed false claims about voter fraud after Mr. Trump misplaced the 2020 presidential election, stoked skepticism concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and unfold anti-trans rhetoric. He additionally amplified the “Nice Alternative” conspiracy, which relies on the assumption that there is a plot to exchange White individuals with minorities.
After casting doubt early on about mail-in voting, Kirk pushed GOP voters to embrace the strategies in 2024.
He pointed to Kari Lake’s loss within the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial race as a second the place he realized that Republicans should embrace “Election Month,” as he put it, not simply Election Day.
“It triggered numerous introspection on our crew. And I used to be like, why are we not embracing, you understand, this form of methodology, we would not find it irresistible, however dropping feels so much worse,” Kirk mentioned. “I feel that the motion is it the identical.”
Born Oct. 14, 1993, Kirk grew up within the Chicago suburbs and briefly attended neighborhood school, however dropped out to pursue political activism full time.
Kirk was the host of “The Charlie Kirk Present,” a every day conservative speak radio present and amassed thousands and thousands of followers on social media.
Kirk is survived by his spouse, Erika, and their two younger kids.
Jacob Rosen and
contributed to this report.
