Shooter Carried Ammo With ‘Transgender, Antifascist’ Words [Photo Source: Reuters]
Prominent right-wing activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday (September 10) during an event at Utah Valley University. The FBI released an image of the attacker after the incident.
The shooter reportedly carried ammunition engraved with words linked to transgender and antifascist ideology, according to multiple reports. The FBI said the gunman wore a black tactical helmet, a black mask, and carried a black long gun. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
Soon after the incident, US President Donald Trump announced that Kirk would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. He also declared that Kirk would be honoured with “martyr status.” Trump’s statement reflects Kirk’s importance within conservative circles and his influence in right-wing activism.
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Charlie Kirk was a prominent author and conservative activist. His most well-known contribution was founding Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a nonprofit organization that encourages young people in American colleges to adopt conservative views.
Kirk launched TPUSA when he was just 18 years old. He quickly became one of the most prominent voices of the American right, often called the “youth whisperer.” He began his career writing for Breitbart and appearing on Fox Business as a teenager.
Although he attended college briefly, Kirk left to focus fully on political activism. His efforts grew TPUSA into a powerful platform with national influence.
Kirk hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a three-hour daily radio program that started in October 2020 under Turning Point Live. His outreach grew online as well, with 5.2 million followers on X and 7.3 million on TikTok.
ALSO READ: FBI Releases Photos of ‘Person of Interest’ in Charlie Kirk Shooting | See Photo
In his own words, he once said he had “no money, no connections and no idea what I was doing” when he began his journey. But his movement reshaped conservative student activism in the US.
Kirk strongly supported Donald Trump and became one of his closest allies during the 2024 presidential campaign. He often advocated for Christian nationalism and took hardline positions against mask mandates, DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs, climate action, and the Civil Rights Act.
The discovery of ammunition engraved with ideological words suggests the killing was politically motivated. This increases concerns about an increase in political violence in the US. It's ironic that Kirk, who regularly warned of attacks on conservative values, was a victim of the very divisiveness he condemned.
ALSO READ: Charlie Kirk to Receive ‘Medal of Freedom Posthumously’ After Assassination in Utah
