Orem, Utah — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Kirk, 31, was addressing an outdoor audience of about 3,000 people when witnesses say a single shot struck him in the neck. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
District 55 Representative Nick Archer (R-Elk City) reacted to the shooting, blaming radical ideology for the sudden rise in political violence in the country.
“Radical ideology is really the true pandemic. That starts with all groups and all entities, whether that’s the individuals flying planes into the buildings on 9/11, or those responsible for the acts we saw yesterday in Utah. It’s something that we have to work on. There’s not another booster shot to cure that. Mr. Kirk founded Turning Point USA as a young man in his 20s. I think this probably is the true turning point for a lot of people across the United States. It’s sad that it takes an act like this to do it, but I think it really did open quite a few eyes.”
Authorities say the shot was fired from a nearby rooftop, and law enforcement has recovered what is believed to be the murder weapon, described as a high-powered bolt-action rifle. A suspect has not been detained; The FBI has released two photos of a new person of interest in the assassination and are asking the public’s help in identifying the person.
President Trump, while addressing the nation, blamed “political rhetoric,” especially from the “radical left,” for creating an environment that fosters violence.
He also said Kirk’s death is a “dark moment for America.”
