Congresswoman condemns Charlie Kirk’s murder, says ‘violence has no place in the country’

Congresswoman Deborah Ross condemned Charlie Kirk’s murder, urging leaders to reduce political rhetoric. Trump announced a manhunt update and posthumous Medal of Freedom for the Turning Point USA founder killed at Utah Valley University.

Washington: A day after leading conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead while speaking at a university event in Utah, Congresswoman Deborah Ross reacted to the assassination, saying, “violence has no place in the country.”

Speaking to IANS on Thursday in Washington, Ross, a Democratic Representative from North Carolina, said that as an elected official, she and her colleagues in Congress should “take responsibility” for dialling back political rhetoric.

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“More than a year ago, there was an assassination attempt on then-candidate and now President Trump. We also saw the assassination of Minnesota lawmakers. We have got to, as elected officials, take responsibility for dialling back this rhetoric and setting a better example for the American people, and that includes the President of the United States, who, on many occasions, has advocated violence,” she noted.

Meanwhile, a massive manhunt is underway to arrest the killer, with authorities releasing two images of the “person of interest.”

The police have received more than 200 tips and are investigating multiple leads. Investigators have recovered a high-powered hunting rifle, a palm print, and a shoe impression in a wooded area near the campus. The FBI has announced a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, said the authorities are “making big progress.”

Asked how he wanted his supporters to respond to Charlie Kirk’s murder, Trump said, “He was an advocate of non-violence. That’s the way I like to see people.”

Earlier in the day, Trump announced that Kirk would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Kirk, who was 31 years old, was delivering remarks during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when shots rang out, sparking panic among attendees. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the country’s most prominent conservative student organisation. He launched the Arizona-based group in 2012 at the age of 18, building it into a political powerhouse with over 800 chapters across US colleges. TPUSA became a central force in mobilising young conservative voters, particularly in the 2024 election, where it played a pivotal role in boosting Trump’s re-election campaign.