A well-known conservative figure was murdered during a public forum at a Utah university.
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot at a Turning Point USA gathering at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Authorities suspect the 31-year-old was the victim of a deliberate attack, shot once by a rifle while addressing a large audience of students.
The suspected shooter opened fire from a rooftop on the Orem campus and then escaped. Although early reports indicated a suspect was apprehended, the FBI later clarified that a “subject of interest” was released after interrogation, and the perpetrator is still at large.
Kirk, the founder of the youth conservative group Turning Point USA, gained recognition for his campus debates with progressive students and his strong relationship with former President Donald Trump. His death has sparked considerable political responses, with Democrats denouncing “political violence” and Republicans criticizing what they view as aggressive left-leaning speech.