Wa Officials Respond To Death Of Charlie Kirk Political Violence

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 2:23 AM

wa officials respond to death of charlie kirk political violence

Conservative activist was killed Sept. 10. Republican and Democrat officials in Washington state have condemned political violence in response to the Sept. 10 shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking outdoors to a crowd of students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A suspect is in custody and formal charges will be released this week.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to the Associated Press. In the days since Kirk’s death, several Washington state officials have issued statements. Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Washington Moments after news of Charlie Kirk’s shooting was disseminated and his fate was still unknown, Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh told The Center Square he was “praying for a miracle.” That miracle never came, as Kirk, cofounder and executive director of conservative organization Turning Point USA, died of his wounds after taking a bullet to the neck at an event at Utah Valley University... Walsh said he blames political rhetoric for fueling the violence.

“The partisan rhetoric of the extreme left is violent,” he said. “And it’s one of the great misunderstandings of American political culture that the left is peaceful. The left is not peaceful; the left is violent. The rhetoric is violent. Their anger is dangerous. And the radical left fills its minions with hate and feelings of oppression and victimization that motivate violent actions.

We see it in the attempts on the President’s life. And we see it today.” Charlie Kirk, an influential conservative activist and the founder of the political organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, according to media reports. President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk's death in a Truth Social post. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote.

"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!" Legislators in Washington state and across the U.S. condemned the shooting as an unacceptable act of political violence. There was bipartisan agreement among Washington's political leaders that violence rooted in political ideology has no place in the U.S.

To stream KING 5 on your phone, you need the KING 5 app. Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state leaders condemned the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk after he was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in what officials there called a “political assassination.” No suspect was in custody late Wednesday, though authorities were searching for a new person of interest, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the...

Two people were detained earlier in the day but neither was determined to have had any connection to the shooting and both have been released, Utah public safety officials said. Washington state officials on the right and left condemned political violence Wednesday following the fatal shooting of 31-year-old conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. Kirk, a right-wing firebrand who co-founded Turning Point USA, an organization that advocates for conservative policies on high school and college campuses across the country, was speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley... Utah state officials said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon that a "person of interest" had been taken into custody and was being questioned, according to The New York Times. That person was later released after being interrogated, FBI Director Kash Patel said on X. RELATED: Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk has died after shooting, Trump says

Kirk's death was first announced by President Donald Trump. Law enforcement has not publicly identified a motive for the shooting. However, on Wednesday afternoon, investigators believed it was a targeted attack against Kirk, The New York Times reported. Top Republicans and Democrats largely coalesced to mourn conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and condemn politically motivated violence, after he was shot and killed Wednesday during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Calling Kirk "great, and even legendary," President Donald Trump announced his death on the Truth Social media platform Tuesday afternoon. Stream NBC4 newscasts for free right here, right now.

"No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote. "He was loved and admired by ALL." White House officials had huddled earlier in the afternoon as they tried to obtain more information on the shooting and Kirk's condition, a sense of shock permeating a building where the 31-year-old activist was... At least one expletive could be heard as officials shut the door to the room where they gathered. WASHINGTON (AP) — The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event in Utah had particular resonance for public figures who have experienced political violence themselves. READ MORE: 4 things to to know about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk

Kirk, who served as chief executive and cofounder of the youth organization Turning Point USA, made frequent appearances on college campuses and in other settings, engaging in political dialogue with students in public settings. Several leaders who have survived public attacks or had family members victimized joined in bipartisan condemnation of the attack on Kirk. The former House speaker’s husband was seriously injured at their California home in 2022 by a man wielding a hammer, who authorities said was a believer in conspiracy theories. (The Center Square) – Moments after news of Charlie Kirk’s shooting was disseminated and his fate was still unknown, Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh told The Center Square he was “praying for... That miracle never came, as Kirk, cofounder and executive director of conservative organization Turning Point USA, died of his wounds after taking a bullet to the neck at an event at Utah Valley University... A suspect has since been taken into custody.

Walsh said he blames political rhetoric for fueling the violence. “The partisan rhetoric of the extreme left is violent,” he said. “And it's one of the great misunderstandings of American political culture that the left is peaceful. The left is not peaceful; the left is violent. The rhetoric is violent. Their anger is dangerous.

And the radical left fills its minions with hate and feelings of oppression and victimization that motivate violent actions. We see it in the attempts on the President's life. And we see it today.” The Republican House member from Aberdeen said he met Kirk on a few occasions and thought a lot of him.

Wa Officials Respond To Death Of Charlie Kirk Political Violence

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