Utah Governor Spencer Cox delivered a gripping speech just hours after Charlie Kirk’s murder and declared that ‘our nation is broken.’

Kirk – a 31-year-old conservative influencer – was fatally shot in the neck during a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. 

A gunman could be seen on camera fleeing across a nearby rooftop just moments after opening fire. 

Hours later, Governor Cox gave a powerful and emotional press conference, labeling the shooting as a ‘political assassination’ that shook the very foundation of American democracy. 

‘This is a dark day for our state,’ Cox tearfully said. ‘It’s a tragic day for our nation.’ 

The Republican governor not only denounced the violence but also vowed to pursue justice for the assassin, promising to hold them fully accountable under the law.

‘And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah,’ he said firmly. 

Kirk, a leading conservative youth activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was present at the university for the first stop of his ‘American Comeback Tour’ when he was shot.

In Cox’s speech, which swiftly garnered widespread acclaim online for its strength and determination, he reminded Americans that Kirk was ‘foremost a husband and a father to young children.’

In a gripping address delivered just hours after Charlie Kirk’s murder, Utah Governor Spencer Cox (pictured) proclaimed to America that ‘our nation is broken.’

The 31-year-old conservative influencer (pictured before the shooting) was fatally shot in the neck during a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. A gunman, captured on camera, was seen fleeing across a nearby rooftop shortly after opening fire.

Governor Cox delivered a powerful and emotional statement (pictured) hours after Kirk’s murder, calling the shooting a ‘political assassination’ that shattered the core of American democracy

He emphasized that Kirk’s dedication to free speech was why he was addressing college students on campus, highlighting his passion for educating youth and engaging them in debates on important topics.

According to Cox, ‘Charlie believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and to persuade people.’

During his address, he also denounced the shooting as an attack on the very principles the Founding Fathers fought to uphold.

He reminded the nation of the fundamental principle straight from the Declaration of Independence: ‘all men are endowed… with certain inalienable rights. The first one of those is life.’

Cox tearfully declared ‘our nation is broken,’ as he described the father-of-two’s murder as yet another horrific act in a troubling wave of political violence plaguing the country.

‘We’ve had political assassinations recently in Minnesota. We had an attempted assassination on the governor of Pennsylvania, and we had an attempted assassination on a presidential candidate and former President of the United States and now current President of the United States,’ Cox said.

‘Nothing I say can unite us as a country. Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken,’ he added. ‘Nothing I can say can bring back Charlie Kirk.’

‘Our hearts are broken. We mourn with his wife, his children, his family, his friends. We mourn as a nation.’

During Cox’s speech, which quickly earned widespread praise online for its force and conviction, the governor reminded Americans that Kirk was ‘first and foremost a husband and a dad to young children’ (pictured) 

Cox described the father-of-two’s murder as yet another horrific act in a growing wave of political violence plaguing the nation, pointing to a series of recent assassination attempts on political figures – including President Donald Trump (pictured) 

The Republican governor (pictured) condemned the violence and vowed to bring the assassin to justice, pledging to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law – including suggesting the death penalty could be on the table 

Hundreds took to social media after Cox’s press conference, praising the governor for the power of his words as he spoke to not only Utah but the entire nation amid a time of tragedy and division.

‘Cox showed leadership and complete transparency into where we are at in the Charlie Kirk assassination. It was an amazing heartfelt unrehearsed speech. We need this kind of leadership to guide us through these events,’ one comment read.

Another read: ‘Spencer Cox is giving a master class in how to respond in this moment.’

‘The governor of Utah, just gained a new fan. What a phenomenal and powerful speech,’ wrote a third viewer.

‘Very impressive in this time of tragedy,’ another added. ‘Mourning the loss of an American. No politics as he spoke. We need more of this.’

In agreeance, a user chimed in: ‘Absolutely. I can’t even recall the governor’s words but I was so moved by them.’ 

Just after 12pm, Kirk was answering his second question on the topic of mass shootings – specifically, whether he knew how many had involved a transgender shooter.

He responded and began to take another question – but before he could answer, a shot rang out.

The father-of-two, known for his fierce MAGA views and thrilling debates with college kids across the country, collapsed immediately after being hit by gunfire (pictured) 

Authorities have since confirmed that 71-year-old George Zinn (pictured), who was taken into custody immediately after the shooting, was not the shooter. Another man, Zachariah Qureshi, who was also detained and questioned, has been released 

Students at the event were seen running and screaming in shock after witnessing the bloody scene unfold in front of their eyes (pictured) 

‘We just saw Charlie Kirk’s neck turn to the side and it appeared that he had been shot in the neck,’ reporter Emma Pitts told The Guardian. ‘There was blood, immediately a lot of blood.’

University student Sawyer Carr, 18, told the Daily Mail that although the sound resembled a ‘large clap,’ Kirk was immediately bleeding profusely.

‘I hear a gun fire. Then his neck drops back, he starts gushing blood, and he just folds over,’ Carr said. 

The father-of-two, known for his fierce MAGA views and thrilling debates with college kids across the country, collapsed immediately after being hit by gunfire. 

Students at the event were seen running and screaming in shock after witnessing the bloody scene unfold in front of their eyes. 

Kirk was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries, while an elderly man was taken into custody.

Authorities have since confirmed that 71-year-old George Zinn, who was taken into custody immediately after the shooting, was not the shooter. Another man, Zachariah Qureshi, who was also detained and questioned, has been released as well. 

FBI agents are now working with the local police to track down the killer.