Conservative activist Charlie Kirk dies after being shot at a University of Utah event

Orem, Utah (AP) – Conservative activist Charlie Kirk And a close alliance to President Donald Trump, who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was shot dead on Wednesday at an event at the University of Utah, what the governor called a political assassination from the rooftop. Those interested were in custody, officials said.

“This is a dark day for our state, a tragic day for our country,” he said. Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “I want to make it very clear that this is a political assassination.”

Authorities did not immediately identify the person in custody, motives or criminal charges, but the shooting situation was Escalating the threat of political violence in the United States It has been reduced across the ideological spectrum over the past few years. The assassination sparked bipartisan condemnation, but it took into account the national approach to prevent the appearance of political dissatisfaction that fatal violence appears to be elusive.

A video posted on Utah Valley University’s social media shows Kirk talking to a handheld microphone and sitting under a white tent decorated with the slogan “American comeback” and “Proof Me Wrong.” A single shot sounds and you can see Kirk reaching out with his right hand, as a massive amount of blood erupts from the left side of his neck. The surprised audience can hear people screaming in breath before they start to run away. The Associated Press was able to confirm that the video was filmed at Sorensen Center Courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

Kirk was speaking at discussions hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Just before the shooting, Kirk was asking the audience questions about mass shootings and gun violence.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the past decade?” asked. Kirk replied, “Too many.”

The questioner followed up as follows:

“Are you counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.

Then a single shot rang. The shooter, who Cox pledged, was held responsible in a state with the death penalty, was fired in dark clothing and shortly away from the campus roof.

The death was announced on social media by Trump. Trump praised Kirk, 31, who is the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization. Turning Point USAas “even great and legendary.”

“He didn’t understand or have the center of the youth in the United States better than Charlie,” Trump posted in his Social Explanation of Truth.

Utah Valley University said the campus was soon evacuated and remains closed. Classes have been cancelled until further notice. Those still on campus were asked to remain in place until officers were able to safely escort them from campus. Armed officers roamed the neighbourhood adjacent to campus, knocked on the door and asked for information about the shooter.

Officers were looking at photos on their phones and showing them to people to see if they were aware of the people they were interested.

The event, which was billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour,” produced a response from a polarized campus. An online petition seeking university administrators to appear in Kirk has received nearly 1,000 signatures. Last week, the university issued a statement citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to freedom of speech, intellectual investigation and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted an X-picture in a news clip showing his visit was causing controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

The shooting was drawn Fast criticism Crossing the political aisle when Democratic officials joined Trump, he lowered the flag to half the price, issued a presidential declaration, and Republican Kirk’s allies condemned the violence.

“An unpleasant, sleazy and denigrated as attacks on Charlie Kirk,” posted on X, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democratic California governor who hosted Kirk on a podcast last March.

“Charlie Kirk’s murder breaks my heart. My deepest sympathy lies in his wife, two young children and friends,” said former Democrat Gabriel Guiffold. People injured in a 2011 shooting In her Arizona area.

The shooting seemed poised to become part of a surge in political violence that touched various ideologies and representatives of both major political parties. Attacks include Assassination of Minnesota Senators and her husband At their house in June, Fire bombs at the Colorado Parade to demand Hamas’ hostages be releaseda Fire has been set up at the Pennsylvania Governor’s HouseI was a Jew in April. The most infamous of these events is Photographing of Trump during last year’s campaign rally.

Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who attended Wednesday’s event, said in an interview with the Fox News Channel that he heard a shot and saw Kirk return.

“It felt like a close shot,” Chaffetz said.

He had a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security, but not enough.

“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And we don’t have these kinds of things.”

Turning Point was established in 2012 by Chicago suburb Kirk (18 at the time) and Tea Party activist William Montgomery to convert on university campuses for low tax and limited government. It wasn’t a success right away.

But Kirk’s enthusiasm for standing up against liberals in academia ultimately outperformed a set of influential, conservative investors.

Despite the early concerns, Turning Point He enthusiastically supported Trump after he decided to nominate the GOP in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. during the general election campaign.

Soon, Kirk was a regular on cable television, where he leaned against the culture war and praised the then president. Trump and his son were equally enthusiastic, often talking at Turning Point meetings.

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Richer and Sherman reported from Washington. Denver’s Associated Press authors Nicholas Riccardi and Michael Beezecker, Brian Slodisco, Lindsay Whitehurst and Michelle L. Price contributed to the report.