Today while in Utah at one of his college campus events Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA was shot. We learn more from a report from the AP News:

“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.

The shooting is fluid but here is more on it:

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The AP was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

I’ve seen a video of the shooting and it was not a random shot and has all the earmarks of a trained shooter. When I first saw the video my first thought was that there was no way he survived it, but the reports of him not surviving are true. US President Donald Trump posted this on his Truth Social account:

The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. 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!

We need to pray for the Kirk family and Charlie’s wife Erika and his two young children.

Heartless

News of the shooting is all over social media as expected and we need to be careful to not jump to conclusions because all sorts of information is out there verified or not. In a news environment where the rush is to be first and not to be right we need to wait before we say anything other than what we can prove. The raw video I say and I imagine anyone can find now is shocking all by itself. I won’t play it although I can for a variety of reasons just out of respect for his wife, children and family. But I have seen posts on social media where the knives are out because Kirk was a conservative. Again, I’m not going to post them mostly because many of them are vile and heartless. They are a testament to the coarseness of the end times and how the divisive environment the Bible predicted. President Trump as well as politicians from all sides condemned the violence and encouraged people to pray for Kirk which is the only right thing to do now. Unfortunately it will only be a matter of time before those who disagree with Kirk will go back to the invective they had for him before this shooting. I was all ready to report on so many other things, but when this happened I knew it needed to be the lead.

What Can We Do?

As I’ve been saying this is so early in the news cycle that getting all the details isn’t going to help. Yes, we need to pray. Always. However when we hear things like this it is extremely easy to get emotional and to be honest, angry at the hate that most likely drove this senseless act of violence. As Christians we need to fight the impulse to let our anger take control of us and how we respond with each other and on social media. My advice is to take a breath and pray for the Kirk family and those close to him. Maybe even only post how you remembered him and supported him in his efforts to open the dialogue with the youth of this country. Even if you disagree with him, refrain from the strong criticism of him and his views for at least a day or so, maybe longer. And if you are a praying person, let Holy Spirit guide you in your next posts or conversations with those you know. Above all else don’t get caught up in debating people you disagree with now. If the early posts I’ve seen are any evidence you will only be dragged down into the toxic sludge from where these people live. It will only hurt you and really, won’t change any minds. Jesus even told us this:

Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces. (Matt 7:6, AMPC)

Kirk’s wife posted this on her profile:

Erika Kirk, wife of Charlie Kirk, posted a Bible verse just hours before he was shot at a Utah event:

"Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."