Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From Washington, United States President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and announced that he will award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, in posthumous recognition of his work as an activist and influential figure within the conservative movement.
On Wednesday, September 10, Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative youth movement Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a public event at Utah Valley University (in Orem). Kirk was participating in a tour called “The American Comeback Tour” (“The American Comeback”), in an event titled Prove Me Wrong.
Approximately 20 minutes into the attack, at around 12:20 p.m. (local time), Kirk was shot in the neck from a nearby building at a distance estimated at 180-200 meters. It is currently believed to have been a targeted attack.
There were about 3,000 people present at the event.
Immediate consequences
Following the attack, Kirk was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where his death was later confirmed. He was 31 years old.
A police operation was launched to identify the shooter. Although a suspect was arrested, authorities determined that person was not the shooter.
The news sparked immediate reactions from politicians from various parties, who condemned the attack as an act of political violence.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk was a well-known figure in American conservative politics, especially among young people. With Turning Point USA, he toured extensively, produced multimedia content, and was an active voice in debates about culture, politics, freedom of expression, conservative rights, and more.
His death has reignited debate about political violence in the country, security at public events, and growing polarization. It also raises questions about who was behind the attack (its motivation, planning, perpetrator) and how to ensure the safety of public figures at mass events.
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