North Carolina politicians decry political violence in wake of Charlie Kirk’s death

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk died on Sept. 10 after being shot during an event on a Utah college campus. His death has been met with an outpouring of support from people across North Carolina.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk died on Sept. 10 after being shot during an event on a Utah college campus. His death has been met with an outpouring of support from people across the Carolinas.

Hours after Kirk’s death was announced by President Donald Trump, the governor of Utah described Kirk’s death as a “political assassination.”

“This is a dark day for our state, it’s a tragic day for our nation,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference on Sept. 10. “I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”

Political figures in North Carolina and across the nation have sent their thoughts and prayers to Kirk’s family in what has become a string of political violence.

What happened to Charlie Kirk?

Kirk, 31, was hosting a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when he was fatally shot. Livestream video of the event showed crowds of people running from the university’s courtyard, where he was speaking, when a gunshot rang out.

Around 3,000 people were in attendance at the event, according to police.

“The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard. Any additional clarifications cannot be provided to protect the integrity of our investigation,” read a statement from law enforcement on Sept. 10.

North Carolina lawmakers remember Charlie Kirk, decry violence

Political figures, both Republicans and Democrats, have sent an outpouring of sympathy for Kirk’s family after his death, while also admonishing political violence.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards remembered Kirk as “an influential political activist and staunch conservative,” and also as a friend, while calling for prayers for Kirk’s loved ones.

“Charlie Kirk was a warrior for what he believed — he was also a husband & a father. It’s sick and un-American to call for or celebrate violence against someone you disagree with. It needs to stop,” wrote Republican Congressman Tim Moore.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein wrote on X about how many “senseless murders” had happened in recent months, from Kirk’s death to the Colorado school shooting that occurred on the same day.

Democratic Congresswoman Alma Adams decried political violence, stating it had “no place in our country,” while offering prayers to Kirk’s loved ones and those who witnessed the shooting.

Has someone been arrested in the death of Charlie Kirk?

As of Thursday morning, no suspect was in custody, according to reports.

Two people had been detained on Wednesday, not long after Kirk was shot, according to the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety. But investigators determined that neither of the two had anything to do with the shooting and were later released.

What did Charlie Kirk do?

A co-founder of Turning Point USA and political commentator, Kirk was a staunch political ally of Trump and had become well known in the conservative political sphere, even speaking at the Republican National Convention as Trump vied for his second term in office in 2024. He was also a divisive figure who often made waves with his social media posts and during his speaking engagements.

Trump saw Kirk as an inspiring leader who helped spur millions of young Americans to political activism. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the president pointed fingers at the “radical Left” in the death of Kirk, even though no suspect has been arrested in the case.

“It’s long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” Trump said.

In his speech, Trump did not mention that he, other conservatives and Kirk have used language that attacked liberals and opponents of Trump similarly, in some cases leading to political violence against those on the Left.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

Reporting by Joyce Orlando, USA TODAY NETWORK / Asheville Citizen Times