Summary
- A manhunt is ongoing for the killer of conservative activist and influential Trump ally Charlie Kirk, who died after being shot at a university in Utah
- Two people who were arrested have since been released – officials say they have “no current ties” to the shooting
- It’s not clear if police have any leads on the gunman – but authorities don’t seem to think they’re still on campus, our reporter at Utah Valley University writes
- Meanwhile, Trump says he is “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination”, calling it a “dark moment for America”
- Officials believe Kirk was shot from a roof – BBC Verify examines a video posted online
- Kirk, who founded conservative group Turning Point USA aged 18, was close to the president and his family – read our profile here
- The fatal shooting lays bare America’s bloody and broken politics, says our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher
Visibly angry and upset, Donald Trump described Charlie Kirk as a martyr for truth and freedom, as he paid tribute to a man he considered to be not just a close friend, but also someone who played a significant role in his re-election and in shaping the MAGA movement.

Trump directly blamed radical left-wing politics for contributing to this atrocity and other recent violent political attacks.
He noticeably did not mention recent murders and violent attacks against Democrats.
Advertisement

To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
Often atrocities like this create an atmosphere of political unity.
Many senior politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, have responded by saying this kind of violence has no place in American democracy.
But there is also a widespread, furious and febrile reaction among followers of Trump and Kirk which is demanding retribution. This feels like a dangerous moment in America.
Credit: www.bbc.com

