Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday was a “political assassination” and a “dark day” for both Utah and the U.S.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation. I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Cox said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was hit by a gunshot in the neck, according to videos from the scene shared on social media.
“Charlie Kirk was first and foremost, a husband and a dad to two young children,” Cox said. “He was also very much politically involved, and that’s why he was here on campus. Charlie believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and to persuade people.”
Not long after the shooting, authorities briefly had a person of interest in custody, but he was released authorities “identified that he did not match the shooting suspect and was not an accurate person of interest,” according to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason.
“However, he has been booked into the county jail by Utah Valley University Police Department for obstruction of justice,” Mason said, adding that law enforcement still has an “active investigation for the person of interest.”
A person of interest in the fatal shooting of Kirk is in custody, both Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel said.
“I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you, we will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” the Utah governor said. “And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”
Orem Mayor David Young said authorities are evaluating whether the suspect in custody will be charged.
“They have a new suspect in custody and are going through the process of determining whether or not he will be charged,” Young told The Hill on Wednesday evening. “So some progress has been made but it is not definitive yet.”
