In wake of Charlie Kirk's death, NC leaders & students grow concerned over rise in political violence
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a single shot in a targeted attack during an outdoor event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University, authorities said.
Kirk co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump.
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No one was in custody Wednesday evening as authorities seek a new person of interest in the assassination, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety also confirmed no one was in custody in the investigation into Kirk’s killing.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “I want to be very clear, this is a political assassination.”
‘It needs to stop’: NC Republicans and Democrats condemn fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk
Politicians from across North Carolina offered condolences to Kirk’s family after he was shot and killed at the event.
Prayers for Kirk and his family poured in from all sides of the political spectrum. Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and RNC Chair Mark Whatley, the top two candidates for Thom Tillis's Senate seat in 2026, condemned the attack on Kirk and political violence in all forms.
“Violence must have no place in our country, and we should all remember our common humanity,” Cooper posted on X. “I am praying for [Charlie] Kirk’s family and loved ones.”
“I will miss my friend, but know he is with our lord and Saviour right now being told, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant,” Whatley posted.
“Charlie was a fearless voice for freedom and an inspiration to a new generation of Americans,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 9th district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tim Moore, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 14th congressional district and former speaker of the NC House, said Kirk’s death is “what happens when you dehumanize those you disagree with.”
“Kirk was a warrior for what he believed in. It’s sick and un-American to call for or celebrate violence against someone you disagree with,” Moore said. “It needs to stop.”
This sentiment was shared across party lines.
“Political violence has no place in our country. Ever,” said Deborah Ross, a Democrat representing North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district.
Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, on Thursday blamed Democrats for rhetoric that contributed to violent events, including Kirk’s death. Whatley became chairman of the national Republican Party after leaving the state GOP. He was an ally of Kirk and had recently spoken at a conference hosted by Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA.
“When folks on the left seek to dehumanize those they disagree with, they use words like ‘fascist’ and ‘Nazi,’ and they call for violence,” Whatley said at a news conference at the state legislature. “That's what leads to deranged people doing cowardly and evil acts. The most fundamental obligation and responsibility of any government is keeping its citizens safe.”
He called on Democratic leaders “to call out the hateful rhetoric that is leading to this violence.”
“It is time for them to take a look in the mirror and realize their soft-on-crime policies are killing our young people, our future and destroying families,” Whatley said.
The North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans, and Young Democrats of North Carolina released a joint statement Friday.
"In the wake of the tragic events surrounding Charlie Kirk, we come together as fellow North Carolinians and as Americans to say clearly: there is no place for political violence in our state or our nation. It is unacceptable. Our differences of opinion and debate are part of what makes our country strong. Those differences must never turn to violence. Before we are Republicans or Democrats, we are neighbors, friends, and Americans. Each of us has a say in the world we’re building together. People shouldn’t feel intimidated out of our political process. We have the choice to fan flames or stand up for our common humanity and love for our neighbors by rejecting political violence in all forms. We stand united in choosing the latter, and we hope you’ll join us."
‘Puts us on high alert’: Former Wake County Sheriff discusses challenges of protecting open political events
Donnie Harrison, a former sheriff of Wake County in North Carolina, told WRAL reporter Eric Miller that anyone working to secure a political rally in North Carolina, where a high-profile Senate race is expected to play out in 2026, will have to pay more attention to threats in the wake of the shooting.
“It still puts us on high alert every time,” Harrison said, adding that the public also plays a role in helping authorities maintain a safe environment and toning down violent rhetoric.
“I don’t know how to say it, other than it’s just getting bad,” Harrison said.
The news was surprising to UNC student Hadi Rahim, who said he debated Kirk when the conservative activist came to UNC’s campus in 2024, adding he now feels less comfortable at political events.
“I think I’m very outspoken about my political beliefs. I, honestly, didn’t feel safe,” Rahim said.
Kirk was shot while he was debating with people at a college campus event at Utah Valley University. Videos show Kirk had been taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience member asked.
Kirk responded, “Too many.”
The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”
Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.
Then a single shot rang out.
At the time he was shot, Kirk was speaking in the throng in a low area surrounded by campus buildings.
Jeff Long, chief of Utah Valley University Police Department, says six officers were working at Kirk’s campus event, and more than 3,000 people were in attendance. Long said law enforcement tries to get the “bases covered.” But he added, “Unfortunately, today we didn’t, and because of that we have this tragic incident.”
Students, meanwhile, told The Associated Press they saw no metal detectors or bag checks. The amount of security appeared consistent with other speaking engagements on Kirk's national tour.
While Rahim said the shooting made him reconsider his own political commentary on places like YouTube, he said it shouldn’t stop people from talking about politics.
“I realized that’s exactly what the shooter would want,” Rahim said.
‘I would call this political violence’: Rising violence against political figures a growing concern in the US
Elon University Political Science Professor Jason Husser called Wednesday’s shooting a growing problem across the country.
“This was a person who had a very prominent political position,” Husser said. “He was talking about politics on a stage when he was assassinated. I would call this political violence.”
Mark Walker, a former North Carolina congressman who knew Kirk, said he felt Kirk’s position put the conservative activist in some danger.
“I was with him last July at the convention. In the way that he set up his speeches, the way he would engage, he would have a security team,” Walker said.
Kirk’s death comes at a time of increasing violence towards political officials. In June, two state lawmakers in Minnesota were shot in their homes. One of the lawmakers, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Raleigh native Mark, were killed in the shooting.
In the summer of 2024, President Trump was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooting killed a man attending the rally with his family. It was one of two assassination attempts on the then Republican candidate leading up to the 2024 election.
In December 2024, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson died after he walked out of a New York hotel and was shot in the chest. Police said they believe the shooter held a deep resentment for corporate America, particularly health care companies.
Pelosi, a Democrat, posted that “the horrific shooting today at Utah Valley University is reprehensible. Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation.”
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) previously said he would not attend multiple town halls out of fear for his safety, and a U.S. citizen living in Thailand pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Tillis and his staff in April.
A 2023 poll by the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute last fall asked whether "true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country." Nearly a quarter of Americans — 23% — said yes, up from 15% in 2021. The increase cut across party lines: 33% of Republicans agreed, 22% of independents and 13% of Democrats.
In recent years, many North Carolina voters have also become concerned about efforts to manipulate election results, particularly after the 2020 presidential election, which Republican President Donald Trump challenged after losing to then-Vice President Joe Biden. A large majority of the state’s registered voters were bracing for politically motivated violence after the election, polling from Elon University indicated last year.
“74% of North Carolinians were at least somewhat to very concerned about violence breaking out,” Husser said. “What we've seen today, even though this is arguably not election-related violence, it's still violence against a political figure, is that the majority of North Carolinians were right to be worried.”
More than one-third (34%) of North Carolinians say that if elected officials can’t protect democracy or Americans, then political violence is justified, according to a February 2020 poll from Meredith College in Raleigh. A similar percentage said political violence was an appropriate course of action “for patriots who believe that things have gotten ‘off track.’”
Republicans are 50% more likely to favor violence or force than Democrats, the poll found. “A majority of Republicans feel that using force as a response to a changing way of life is an appropriate choice,” Meredith said in a report of its poll findings.
Politicians should discourage violence, not normalize it, said David McLennan, director of the Meredith Poll.
“I don't care what side of the aisle it's on, Republican or Democrat, but to see an elected official have a sign or a meme that has violence at the core of it just seems to be perpetuating the problem that we saw play out in Minnesota on Saturday,” McLennan said.
He continued: “Not everyone who sees that sign is going to commit violence, but it just makes it seem like that's normal — and that's never normal.”
Husser said he hopes Kirk’s death can serve as a moment to shine a light on the growing risks of political violence.
“I do hope that our political leaders will take this as a moment to really shine a light on the things that unite us together, and not use this as an opportunity to divide even further,” Husser said.
Woody White, a member of the UNC Board of Governors, is also calling on campuses to “double down and invite even more conservative voices to engage our young people,” in a post on X.
WRAL News has compiled a list of political violence towards US lawmakers and politicians since 2011.
January 8, 2011— Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (D) and federal district court judge John Roll were shot in a targeted attack in Tucson, Arizona, at the “Congress on Your Corner” event. Jared Lee Loughner, 22, was later identified as the suspected shooter.
June 14, 2017 – Representative Steve Scalise (R) of Louisiana was critically hurt during an attack at a charity baseball practice in Washington, DC. Police said the shooter was “fueled by rage” against Trump and GOP lawmakers.
October 8, 2020 – There were 13 men suspected of orchestrating a plot to kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
January 6, 2021— Thousands stormed the U.S. Capitol following the results of the 2020 presidential election. Officials said their motive was to overturn the election results.
June 2022 – Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the target of an assassination attempt by 29-year-old Nicholas Roske.
October 2022 – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer by 42-year-old David DePape, who was accused of breaking into their CA home. Authorities said he planned to end what he considered government corruption.
July 2024— President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt by Matthew Crooks at an outdoor campaign event in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by the Secret Service.
September 15, 2024 – Ryan Routh was accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
FBI agents found documents that contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October and venues where the former President had appeared or was expected to be present.
April 13, 2025— Cody Balmer, 38, was accused of setting the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion on fire while Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and his family were asleep inside.
“This type of violence is not okay,” Shapiro said. “This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society… it is not okay.”
Search warrants say Balmer told 911 operators he targeted the Governor, in part, because of his interpretation of Shapiro's views on the war in Gaza.
June 2025 – Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested after he was accused of shooting Minnesota lawmakers, including Melisa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark, and Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
Hortman and her husband died. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the attack “appeared to be a politically motivated assassination.”
The New York Times, The Associated Press, WRAL reporters Eric Miller, Heidi Kirk and Destinee Patterson, and WRAL multiplatform producers Joseph Ochoa and Sydney Ross contributed to this story.
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