Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed Wednesday morning while speaking at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old, a longtime Donald Trump supporter, was shot in the neck mid-event and died on site.
Reactions came fast. Former Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides, who once guided Caitlin Clark, broke a year-long silence on social media. Her post was brief but heavy: “💔🥺 We forgot how to be human… BE THE LIGHT! 🙏”
💔🥺
We forgot how to be human…
BE THE LIGHT! 🙏🏼— Christie Sides (@ChristieSides) September 10, 2025
Kirk was a polarizing figure but one who energized young Republicans. His debates often drew fire. His sudden death during a campus stop has pushed questions about safety and political violence back into the spotlight.
“Sad. Sick. Outraged.”: Sophie Cunningham’s sister react to Charlie Kirk shooting
Lindsey Cunningham, sister of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, also responded. On Instagram, she blasted the killing as senseless.
“She lost her husband & those babies lost their father bc some POS had differing political views,” she wrote. Then added: “Emphasis on POS. Sad. Sick. Outraged.”
It’s a message that shows how far Kirk’s story traveled, even into sports circles not usually tied to politics.
President Donald Trump quickly issued a statement. He called Kirk “great” and “legendary,” saying his thoughts were with Kirk’s wife and family. Trump also ordered White House flags to fly at half-staff, a symbolic gesture for one of his closest allies.
The president didn’t stop there. He promised that his administration will hunt down “each and every” person tied to the attack.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox went further, labeling it a “political assassination.”
Police say two people were questioned but later released. No shooter has been caught.
The killing of Charlie Kirk has left his family mourning, his supporters furious, and the country staring at another act of political violence.
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