Just two days after posting a video condemning crime in American cities, 31-year-old conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
On his official YouTube channel, Kirk had shared a video titled “I Feel Safer in South Korea Than in American Big Cities (Pathetic),” where he described walking alone through Seoul. He recalled exploring the city after an event in South Korea, noting, “As soon as you walk out of the hotel, there are no bombs, no people asking you for money. I walked six miles through the streets of Seoul, South Korea… everything is clean, orderly, they take pride and responsibility over their public space.”
Kirk compared the experience with conditions in the United States, saying, “We are a wealthier country than South Korea… crime is not hard to solve, you just have to stand up to the Democrat-soft-on-crime, open prison, prison reform nonsense.” He also highlighted South Korea’s culture of trust, remarking, “People leave their stuff outside convenience stores… no one is going to take it. It is a high trust society. We could live this way but we decide not to. We are the greatest nation ever, but this is a problem.”
Days later, while addressing an audience of about 3,000 students during his “American Comeback Tour,” Kirk was struck in the neck by a single bullet fired from a rooftop. Social media videos captured the chaotic scene as security and students rushed to provide aid.
Authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the sniper after briefly detaining and releasing two men.
Former President Donald Trump mourned Kirk on Truth Social, calling him “a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate,” and pledged to ensure justice. Flags across the United States were ordered to be flown at half-staff in Kirk’s honor.
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