The New York Yankees held a minute’s silence to honor Charlie Kirk after the political activist’s assassination at Utah on Wednesday.
The conservative commentator, 31, was shot at 12:20 pm during a rally at Utah Valley University by a gunman who was captured on video fleeing across a rooftop just after he fired.
Yankee Stadium came to a standstill just before their game against the Detroit Tigers as players, coaches and fans all paid their respects.
The team’s X account posted: ‘Before tonight’s game we held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, the founder of the youth activist group “Turning Point USA,” had become a prominent presence on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.
This incident occurred just 24 hours before Donald Trump is scheduled to be at Yankee Stadium to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The New York Yankees held a minute’s silence to honor Charlie Kirk after his assassination
Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University before he was shot and killed
Father-of-two Kirk was struck by a single bullet while addressing a crowd at the public university in Orem. He immediately collapsed upon being hit and was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A potential suspect was captured following a significant manhunt, but FBI Director Kash Patel later announced they had been released. Eerie footage after the incident shows a shadowy figure in the distance running across the roof of the Lossee Center.
‘This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,’ said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. ‘I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.’
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
Authorities did not immediately identify the person in custody, a motive or any criminal charges, but the circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to an escalating threat of political violence in America.
The FBI, which investigates such acts, was helping lead the inquiry, though officials said at this point they had no reason to believe a second person was involved.
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 shooter, who Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away.
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions for an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.
In new video footage shared on X, a figure is seen lying flat and motionless on the roof of the Losee Center – roughly 200 yards from Kirk – just moments before the shot rang out (pictured)
Charlie Kirk leaves behind wife, Erika Frantzve, and a son, three, and a daughter, 16 months.
Trump announced Kirk’s death and posted a moving tribute to him on Truth Social.
‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,’ the president said.
‘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!’
