Shooting Suspect remains Uncooperative, Utah Governor Calls for Lowered Rhetoric
The suspect in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is not cooperating with authorities, according to statements made by officials. Relatives and a family friend initially alerted police after the suspect implicated himself in the crime, Utah Governor Spencer Cox previously stated.
While raised by religious parents in a conservative area of Utah, the suspect’s ideology differed substantially from his family’s, Cox noted on September 14 during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. He refrained from elaborating on the specifics of those ideological differences.
state records indicate the suspect was a registered voter, but not affiliated with any political party. An arrest warrant affidavit reveals a relative informed investigators that the suspect had become more politically engaged in recent years and had expressed dislike for Kirk and his viewpoints to another family member. Cox confirmed on September 14 that the suspect was “not a fan” of kirk.
The killing has sparked outrage among Kirk’s supporters and widespread condemnation of political violence across the political spectrum.
Former president Donald Trump has attributed Kirk’s death to “the radical left,” despite a lack of supporting evidence. This accusation comes despite a history of Trump and his allies employing violent rhetoric against their political opponents. “The problem is on the left,” Trump told reporters on September 14, adding that “a lot of people that you would traditionally say are on the left… (are) already under examination.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who faced an arson attack at his residence in April, urged Trump to de-escalate the rhetoric. “Violence transcends party lines – and the way to address it and have true peaceful debate is for leaders to speak and act with moral clarity. That needs to start with the president,” Shapiro stated on social media.
Cox also pointed to the role of social media, asserting it has played a “direct role” in recent political assassination attempts.
trump has credited Kirk with mobilizing young voters towards conservatism. Kirk’s Turning Point movement reports having over 800 chapters on collage campuses nationwide. Kirk’s widow announced on September 12 that the movement’s work would continue.
A memorial event for Kirk is scheduled for September 21 in Glendale,Arizona,according to his organization.
