By: Olivia Bowman

 On Wednesday, September 10th, at Utah Valley University, around noon, thirty-one-year-old Charlie Kirk was shot. Kirk was a Republican activist. That was his first scheduled stop of this tour. He planned to visit fourteen other universities. Kirk has done these tours in the past. He goes to universities and speaks with students on campus about big topics that can be controversial. It’s set up in a debate sort of way.   

He was about 20 minutes into his visit when someone shot him in the neck. Witnesses say that the gunshot came from the right side of the stage from a building. Soon after, they arrested a fifty to sixty-year-old man as a suspect. His name is George Zinn; they took him into questioning. Later on, they released him; he was not the person who killed Kirk. He did get charged with obstructing justice. 

President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s passing at 4:44 pm on September 10th. The White House lowered its flag to half-staff in honor of Kirk. Trump ordered that everyone in the United States lower their flags to half-staff until Sunday, September 14th.

Tyler Robinson is the newest suspect for the assassination of Kirk. Robinson is 22, and he was enrolled in an apprenticeship near St George. He lives in Washington, Utah, roughly 260 miles from where Kirk was killed. He is being held in a jail in Utah. They are holding him in a special unit so they can keep a close eye on him. 

Allegedly, Robinson texted with someone about how he had an opportunity to hurt Kirk because he loathed what Kirk stood for. According to the BBC, Robinson allegedly texted some friends on Discord the day after the assassination, saying, “It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this.” 

The murder weapon was found in a strip of forest near the building that the killer fled from. There is no information currently about what kind of gun was used. Some strong evidence that they have against Robinson is his DNA being on a towel and a screwdriver. The towel was wrapped around a gun. Most likely the murder weapon, but not yet confirmed. 

Robinson had his first court hearing on September 16th. Prosecutors say he will most likely face the death penalty. Robinson’s partner asked him why he did it, and he responded with, “I had enough of his hatred.” Robinson’s next court hearing is September 29th.