By Bukola Kayode
Charles James Kirk a strong ally to President Donald Trump has been shot dead during an event at Utah University on Wednesday.
31 year of Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organisation Turning Point USA in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer of Turning Point Action and a member of the Council for National Policy.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Utah were still searching early Thursday for the person who killed Charlie Kirk, after questioning and releasing two people.
No suspects were in custody about 12 hours after Mr. Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, was shot while speaking on a Utah college campus in what the state’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox, and Trump described as an “assassination.”
Fox TV News reports The Utah Department of Public Safety said in a press release that Kirk was speaking at the event at about 12:20 p.m. local time when he was shot.
“We initially took in George Zinn as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police,” the department said. “A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement. There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter.”
Investigators believe the attack was targeted and the shooter is believed to have fired a round from the roof of a building.
The event took place in a student courtyard, which was secured with the help of six Utah Valley University officers.
DPS said the security measures from the university were in addition to Kirk’s security detail.
DPS also said about 3,000 people attended the event.
“This is a tragic moment for Utah and our country,” DPS said. “As we all heal, we encourage those who need help to call 988, our state’s mental health crisis line.”
Co-leading the investigation with the Utah Department of Public Safety are the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the Utah County Attorney’s Office, Utah County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments.
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