LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Shock was felt nationwide after the news of Charlie Kirk’s death.
The conservative political activist was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Lawmakers from around the country have given their condolences to Kirk’s family, from President Donald Trump to former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
Several Nevada state leaders also made their voices heard in paying respects to Kirk.
Governor Joe Lombardo posted on X:
Michael McDonald, chairman of Nevada’s Republican Party, also took to social media to honor a man he considered a friend while also condemning senseless violence.
McDonald said in an X post Wednesday:
“Violence has no place in politics. Disagreements must be settled with words and ideas, not with bloodshed.”
A similar message was heard on the other side of the aisle as Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro called for justice to be served in the wake of Kirk’s death.
“Open political debate is a core American value, and responding to it with violence is never acceptable,” Cannizzaro said. “I hope to see the shooter found and held accountable by the justice system.”
As of Wednesday night, the search continues for the suspected shooter.
The Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI are leading the investigation, already questions multiple people of interest but they have been cleared as suspects.
“The only information we have on the suspect the possible shooter is taken from close circuit TV here on campus. We do have that. We’re analyzing it, but it is security camera footage. You can kind of guess what the what the quality of that is,” Utah Department of Public Safety Commission Beau Mason said. “We do know [they were] dressed in all dark clothing, but we don’t have a much better description other than that.”
Questions surrounding security at the event have also been raised following the shooting.
During a press conference Wednesday, Utah Valley University Police Chief Jeff Long said six officers were detailed to work the event that welcomed more than 3,000 people onto campus.
Chief Long also noted UVU Police were working alongside Charlie Kirk’s personal security team.
“We train for these things and you think that you have things covered.These things, unfortunately, they happen. You try to get your basis covered and unfortunately today we didn’t and because of that we had this tragic incident,” Chief Long said.
Chief Long described the area where Kirk’s event was being held was in a bowl shaped courtyard area in the center of the campus.
He described Kirk as being in a lower to the ground area surrounded by buildings.
Utah Valley University’s campus is closed through the end of the week as the investigation continues.
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