Arrested
The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk was arrested Friday, ending a 33-hour manhunt.
Who is the alleged shooter?
The 22-year-old Utah native is a former student at Utah Valley University (the site of the shooting). He was described as a “squeaky clean” and “considerate” boy who excelled academically but had become “more political” in recent years.
Utah Governor Cox (R) says the suspect—who is currently being held without bail in the Utah County Jail—is “not cooperating” with authorities but “all the people around him are.” The alleged gunman’s father alerted authorities after his son “implied that he had committed” the murder; Cox says authorities were also helped by messages provided by the suspect’s “boyfriend, who is transitioning from male to female.”
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, where he’ll face formal charges.
How are people responding?
Over the weekend, Erika Kirk released an episode of her late husband’s podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show. During the emotional podcast, she thanked first responders and pledged to continue Charlie’s work, including his campus tours and radio show.
Vigils have sprung up across the country for people to pay tribute to the 31-year-old activist, while others—including an MSNBC analyst and two university employees—have been fired for making comments seeming to celebrate or minimize Kirk’s death.
Some political leaders have upped their personal security or canceled appearances, and members of both parties have condemned political violence and called for peace.
What’s next?
VP Vance flew Kirk’s body home to Arizona on Air Force Two, where a memorial service has been scheduled for September 21 at State Farm Stadium.
RADIATE HOPE
In the face of a violent world, Christians have hope. The servant of God, who Himself did no violence, suffered violence for us to heal our brokenness and guarantee our home in His peaceful presence forever.
“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.”
Isaiah 53:4-5 (CSB) (read full passage)