Utah Governor Calls Shooting a “Political Assassination”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) labeled the recent shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “political assassination,” which he described as a “dark day” for both the state and the nation.

“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our country. I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Cox stated at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Social media footage showed he sustained a gunshot wound to the neck.

“Charlie Kirk was primarily a father to his wife and two young children,” Cox noted. “He was also politically active, which is why he was on campus. Charlie championed the importance of freedom of speech and debate in shaping ideas and influencing others.”

After the incident, authorities briefly detained an individual who didn’t match the suspect description, but he was later released. According to Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, this individual “didn’t match the suspect and was not an exact person.”

The individual was booked into county jail by the Utah Valley University Police Department for obstructing justice, Mason added.

Kash Patel, who is connected to both the governor and the FBI, announced that a suspect related to Kirk’s death is now in custody.

“We want to make this clear to everyone, but we’ll find you. We’ll give you a trial and hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Governor Cox affirmed. “And we just want to remind people that there is still a death penalty here in Utah.”

Orem Mayor David Young indicated that officials are evaluating whether the detained individual will face charges.

“They have a new suspect in custody and are in the process of determining whether he will be charged,” Young explained to Hill on Wednesday evening. “Some progress has been made, but it’s not yet conclusive.”