A 22-year-old Utah man who was booked on murder charges in the assassination of Charlie Kirk held deep disdain for the conservative activist’s provocative viewpoints and indicated to a family member that he was responsible for the shooting.

Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist organization Turning Point USA, has died after he was shot during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said.

Less than two days later and with much still unknown, right-wing figures are making declarations of war and calling for retribution.

In a press conference on Thursday night, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that law enforcement had received more than 7,000 tips from the public, but pleaded for more of their assistance in finding the shooter. “We need as much help as we can possibly get," he said.

Vance reflected on his years-long friendship with Kirk, the Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder, in a nearly 1,000 word post on social media platform X. The vice president explained that Kirk helped him run for Senate in 2021 and later backed him as President Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election.

Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 10. Charlie Kirk last visited the University of Tennessee in March 2025. One of Charlie Kirk's most impactful interactions was with a student at the University of Tennessee.