A left-wing streamer who was set to debate MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk in a matter of weeks has reacted to his death on a live stream.
The founder of Turning Point USA was fatally shot in the neck yesterday (10 September) at the University of Utah. Kirk rose to prominence in the Republican Party through his work, where he became close friends with Donald Trump and other leading conservative figures.
Footage from the event has been circulating on social media, showing the 31-year-old speaking on gun violence and mass shootings when the attack occurred.
President Trump shared his grief on Truth Social, writing: "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.
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"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!"
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who was set to have a debate with Kirk in just a few weeks, watched the footage live on his Twitch stream.
"That was devastating," he described. "Holy **** I really don't know what to say.
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"America is absolutely f*****."
He later added: “This is a terrifying incident. The reverberation of people seeking out vengeance in the aftermath of this violent, abhorrent incident is going to be genuinely worrisome.”
Piker was scheduled to debate Kirk at Dartmouth College on 25 September. The streamer has also urged his audience to refrain from joking about the shooting of conservative activist and fears that he could also be targeted, according to The New York Times.
Tributes to the conservative activist have been pouring in online.
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“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described Kirk as 'the most eloquent truth teller.'
Meanwhile, tech billionaire Elon Musk called the incident 'cold-blooded murder' and called anyone online 'celebrating' the murder 'evil people.'
Investigators from the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety said the shooting appeared to be 'targeted' and the shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a nearby building into the student courtyard.
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"The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency," wrote FBI Director Kash Patel on X.
"The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack," the investigators wrote. "The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard."