Through his use of social media, Kirk was able to reach a demographic that Republic politicians typically struggle to capture, says our disinformation correspondent, Marianna Spring.

He drew a lot of attention, as someone willing to go beyond the echo chamber and debate people who disagreed with him.

Despite not being an elected politician, he has been credited as being instrumental Donald Trump’s second presidential win by people involved in the campaign, like Donald Trump Jr.

As he did in life, Kirk’s death has ignited a whole debate, says Caitríona Perry, a chief presenter of BBC World News America

The Republicans and Democrats have been pointing fingers at one another, each blaming the other’s rhetoric for the fatal shooting of Kirk, Perry says. More details have emerged since the arrest of suspect Tyler Robinson, but we still haven’t had confirmation on the motive for the shooting.

Mike Wendling
BBC News

We heard from authorities yesterday that they had discovered bullet casings with inscriptions on them, alongside a rifle wrapped in a dark towel.

But these details have not made the suspect’s motivation any clearer.

From the inscriptions and family pictures that have emerged, suspect Tyler Robinson appears to be steeped in online culture.

Several of the messages on the casings refer to memes and games. One unfired bullet casing had the words “Hey fascist! Catch!” and an up, right and three down arrows – quite possibly a reference to a video game, although authorities have not yet released images of the casings.

Another casing had the lyrics of the song “Bella Ciao” inscribed on it. The song honours WWII-era partisans of the Italian resistance who fought Nazi Germany, and many different versions have used by anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian movements in the years since.

But it’s far from clear whether the inscriptions were indications of his politics, red herrings, or something else entirely.

That has not stopped feverish speculation and finger-pointing online. Even before yesterday’s revelations, powerful people in Donald Trump’s orbit were blaming left-wing ideology. But Kirk also had enemies on the extreme right in the form of neo-Nazi “groypers” who consistently tried to disrupt his events. Initial reports that the killer left transgender references now appear to be untrue.

And in recent years the US has been hit by several outbursts of violence that seem disconnected from any clear ideology – with killers leaving behind jumbled texts plucked from the internet and messages of nihilistic rage.

At this stage, we simply don’t know.

Gun laws in the US vary from state to state, explains BBC Newsbeat’s politics reporter, Jordan Kenny.

Utah has “open carry” laws, meaning people can carry firearms in public. It’s a hot topic that will certainly be pushed to the forefront of conversation after Kirk’s death, he says.

Kirk himself was a supporter of the right to bear arms. In 2023, he said: “It’s worth it to have, a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

Gun control reform has been a long-running, and controversial, debate in the US and legislation is very difficult to pass.

In June 2022, Congress passed a bill that imposed tougher checks on young buyers of guns and encouraged states to remove guns from people deemed a threat. The bill enjoyed rare bipartisan support, and was the first significant piece of firearms legislation passed in nearly 30 years.

Will Kirk’s death impact gun control? “It’s hard to say, but it’s unlikely this will lead to much change in the law”, Jordan says.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said authorities are gathering all the evidence to “pursue the death penalty” for the person responsible for the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Statutes for the penalty differ across the 27 states that still practice capital punishment, with those who commit aggravated murder in Utah facing the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, external.

It was also first to resume executions after the practice was reinstated in the United States in 1976 when Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer, was killed by firing squad in 1977, a method only authorised in five states across the country.

Since Gilmore, a total of six others have been executed, including Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was also killed by firing squad in 2010.

Some had hoped to abolish the practice in Utah, with two formerly pro-death penalty Republican legislators, external, State Representative V. Lowry Snow and Senator Daniel McCay, bringing forward a bill in 2022.

However, the bill failed to pass by a single vote.

The latest execution was of convicted murderer and rapist Taberon Honie, external in August 2024, the first to take place in the state in 14 years.

Yesterday, President Donald Trump called for Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer Tyler Robinson to be handed the death penalty.

Trump has long been a proponent of capital punishment and lifted a moratorium on federal executions through an executive order on the first day of his second administration in January.

The majority of executions in the US are carried out on the state level, with 27 states, the military and the federal government still having capital punishment as a legally available option.

While no federal executions have been carried out since Trump returned to office, he oversaw a flurry of 13 executions in the waning months of his first term in late 2020 and January 2021.

Those executions made Trump the country’s most prolific executioner in over a century, and broke with an 130-year-old precedent of pausing executions amid a presidential transition.

The last execution came just five days before he left office in January 2021.

As we reported in our last post, several US organisations have warned against public criticism of the late Charlie Kirk.

And, some are taking action – a Secret Service agent has been put on leave after expressing unfavourable views about the right-wing activist.

The Trump administration has also taken a hard stance against negative comments about Kirk after his killing on Wednesday.

American citizens aren’t the only ones potentially facing consequences for their comments, with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau threating action against anyone praising Kirk’s death.

“I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau wrote on X Thursday.

“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action.”

Since Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year, the State Department has adopted more stringent checks on the social media accounts of visa applicants.

Foreigners applying for study, vocational and non-academic work as well as exchange visitor visas “will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’,” it announced in June.

A member of staff at an Office Depot shop in Michigan, US, has been fired after she refused to print posters for a vigil for the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Republican activist Matthew DePerno shared online footage of a purported exchange with the employee in which she informs him the shop “doesn’t print political propaganda”.

Office Depot has addressed the incident on X, saying “we are deeply concerned” and that the behaviour displayed is “completely unacceptable and insensitive”.

“We also launched an immediate internal review and, as a result, the associate involved is no longer with the organization,” it added.

The incident comes hours after the US Secret Service confirmed an agent who had expressed negative views about Charlie Kirk had been put on leave.

In a memo shared with the BBC’s US partner CBS, US Secret Service Director Sean Curran said staff should not exacerbate the threat of politically-motivated attacks.

“Let me be clear, politically motivated attacks in our nation are increasing — seemingly every day,” he wrote. “The men and women of the Secret Service must be focused on being the solution, not adding to the problem.”

Following Kirk’s death, US military leaders have warned troops and staff over posts mocking the shooting the right-wing activist. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says: “We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable.”

We can now bring you some more images of tributes at vigils for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk following his murder on Wednesday.

We’re seeing crowds gathering to remember Kirk at events in different parts of the world:

As we’ve been reporting, the murder of Charlie Kirk has been met with widespread international reaction.

Author Stephen King has been criticised after suggesting, in a social media post, that Kirk “advocated stoning gays to death”.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz described King as a “horrible, evil, twisted liar” as he rejected the claims about Kirk.

King has since apologised after multiple social media users shared footage of Kirk speaking in support of LGBTQ rights.

“The horrible, evil, twisted liar apologizes. This is what I get for reading something on Twitter w/o fact-checking. Won’t happen again,” King wrote.

For context

Kirk adopted a traditional Christian conservative stance on several issues, vocally denouncing what he described as the “LGBTQ agenda” and openly opposing same-sex marriage.

In a 2024 episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, the activist cited a Biblical verse saying that it stated “that thou shall lay with another man, shall be stoned to death” – with Kirk describing it as “God’s perfect law when it comes to sexual matters”.

The verse actually reads: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death.”

Following his arrest late on Thursday night, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been remanded in custody.

The Utah county attorney’s office says it will formally file charges against him on Tuesday.

According to the booking sheet from his arrest – obtained by our partner, CBS News – Robinson will be charged with the following:

• Aggravated murder
• Obstruction of justice – Capital/First degree felony conduct
• Felony discharge of firearm – Causing serious bodily injury

His father helped to turn him in

• Authorities said that Robinson’s father recognised his son from the images released by the FBI and urged his son to turn himself in, following a confession
• His father reached out to a family friend, a clergy member, -who contacted the authorities, according to our partner, CBS News – citing two law enforcement sources

His car matched one spotted at the scene

• Investigators reviewed footage of Robinson arriving at the university in a Dodge Challenger vehicle at approximately 08:29 local time (15:29 BST) on Wednesday
• A family member confirmed to authorities that Robinson owned a matching vehicle

Police interviewed his roommate

• Investigators interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed them messages between him and an account with the name “Tyler” on the messaging app Discord. The messages from “Tyler” talked about needing to retrieve a rifle from a drop point

He was arrested in Washington County

• Robinson was found by authorities and arrested in Washington County, south of Salt Lake City in Utah, on 12 September at 22:00 local time. He was wearing clothing consistent to those worn by the suspect in surveillance footage

As we’ve been reporting, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is in police custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

We’re still piecing together details about him but we know Robinson is the oldest of three brothers. His father owns a business installing kitchen countertops and cabinets, while his mother is a licensed social worker.

The Robinson family is of Mormon faith and active in the church.

“They are very supportive parents who loved their boys and are involved in the community,” a neighbour has told the BBC’s US partner CBS News. The neighbour also said they also sensed he had different politics than his parents.

Robinson is a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College, according to the Utah System of Higher Education.

He attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021, receiving concurrent enrolment credit through Utah Tech University while in high school.

Utah state records show Robinson registered to vote as unaffiliated, and his registration status is listed as inactive.

A man who says he is the one who appeared in viral video seemingly celebrating the shooting of Charlie Kirk has issued a defence on X.

The video, which has been viewed almost 120,000 times, was seemingly captured from the crowd at Utah Valley University in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s shooting. In it, a man can be seen punching his arms into the air, and appears to be cheering.

The BBC has not independently verified this video.

“There is a lot of rage directed at me, but I promise you’ll understand”, the man – who identifies himself as David – writes on X.

“It’s not just to judge me by an edited clip.”

Following this up with a video message, he says of the shooting he “did not see what happened directly” but “heard a sharp crack”.

He describes his friend reacting in “horror” saying “‘Charlie had been struck'”.

“Realising the situation was dangerous” he goes on, “I stood and shouted ‘USA’, not as a provocation but to project strength…and encourage a distraction that might help calm panic or even save lives”.

He adds that he “would never wish to celebrate harm to anyone”.

Details about Charlie Kirk’s funeral service are yet to be confirmed, but here’s what we know so far:

• Kirk’s body was flown to Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived with his wife, Erika Kirk, and two young children, aboard Air Force Two on Thursday. Mrs Kirk shared photos with his open casket there earlier today
• On 11 September, President Donald Trump confirmed he’ll be attending Kirk’s funeral in Arizona – saying he has “an obligation to do it”
• Trump also told the press he’s heard the service would be held “next weekend”

The killing of Charlie Kirk isn’t the first case of severe political violence the United States has experienced in recent years. Let’s take a look at the most prominent incidents:

2025:

• In June, two state lawmakers from Minnesota were shot in their homes. State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times but survived
• Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house was set on fire while he and his family were inside. They escaped unharmed

2024:

• In July, a man opened fire at Donald Trump while he was addressing a crowd during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
• The trial for another man accused of trying to assassinate Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, last September has just begun

2022:

• An attacker broke into the home of former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, California, with a plot to hold Pelosi captive. She wasn’t home, but he attacked Pelosi’s husband, leaving him in hospital for six days with a fractured skull

Read our North America Correspondent’s analysis: Killing of Trump ally lays bare America’s bloody and broken politics.

As we’ve just reported Utah Valley University is due to resume classes on 17 September, the BBC has also heard reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death from some of the students.

Moments after taking his front-row seat tosee Charlie Kirk speak, Utah Valley University student Scott Sperry watched inshock as a sniper bullet rang out and blood started pouring from Kirk’s neck.

The images, he said, he still can’t shake,but he thinks the loss will only strengthen the movement Kirk inspired him tojoin.

“When you try to silence a voice likethis, they don’t go away – you only amplify it,” sophomore Sperry tellsthe BBC. “There are now going to be a million Charlie Kirks, and I feellike that’s the thing that we need to do.”

“We’re going to lead the way,” he says. “We owe it to Charlie.”

Students with various political ideologies- including those vehemently opposed to Kirk’s beliefs – told the BBC they’vefelt a personal sense of responsibility to ensure healthy debates on collegecampuses continue.

“Something like this – it’s only goingto really help what Charlie was doing,” UVU sophomore Jeb Jacobi says,adding that he believes the number of people involved in the school’s TurningPoint USA chapter will balloon.

• Read more about how students at Utah Valley University have been reacting to Charlie Kirk’s killing

The president of Utah Valley University (UVU), Dr Astrid Tuminez, has confirmed both in-person and online classes will resume from 17 September.

UVU shut down after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event on campus on Wednesday.

In a message shared on the university’s website, Dr Tuminez says increased security will be implemented “as we heal from this tragic event”.

“We are committed to returning to the safety for which the university is known,” she adds.

A 22-year-old from Utah has been arrested over the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, we’ve compiled a timeline of the key developments:

Day one:

• Charlie Kirk is shot at a university event in Utah while debating students at 12:23 local time (19:23 BST), he is taken to hospital by his own private security
• Two hours later, US President Donald Trump announces Kirk’s death on social media, saying he was “loved and admired by ALL”
• Utah Governor Spencer Cox launches a manhunt. The FBI pledges to dedicate “full resources” to the search
• CCTV footage captures the attacker, as a suspect is held, but later released. Trump vows to crack down on “political violence” in a post on Truth Social

Day two:

• In an update, the FBI says the shooter jumped off the roof and fled into a nearby neighbourhood. It recovered a weapon in a wooded area, which is later identified as imported Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle
• Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason says the suspect “appears to be of college age” as the FBI releases pictures of a “person of interest”. It offers a $100,000 reward for information
• President Trump announces he will be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In the late evening, Air Force Two leaves Utah for Arizona with Kirk’s body onboard, accompanied by JD Vance and his wife

Day three:

• Trump says the suspect has been caught
• The suspect is named as Tyler Robinson, 22. In a news conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox says: “We got him”
• Cox says inscriptions were found on bullet casings at the scene including “Hey fascist! Catch!”, “O Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao” and “if you read this you are gay lmao”
• Tyler Robinson’s police mugshot is released. He’s accused of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm
• Mrs Kirk, Charlie’s wife, speaks publicly for first time, saying she will never let her husband’s legacy die

We’ve heard from Erika Kirk again this morning, in a post on her Instagram she shared videos and photos of her sitting over her husband Charlie’s casket.

She is seen in one of the videos kissing his hand as he lies in the casket in a suit and tie, she can also be seen with a medallion, depicting a bald eagle – the national symbol of the United States.

As a reminder, JD Vance flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday to retrieve Kirk’s casket and transport it to Phoenix, Arizona – where Kirk’s family lives – on the vice-presidential aircraft, Air Force Two.

In the post on Instagram, Mrs Kirk reiterates comments she made in her first public address last night – here’s a recap of what she said.

She adds: “You. All of you. Will never. Ever. Forget my husband, I’ll make sure of it.

“Rest in the arms of our Lord baby as he blankets you with the words I know your heart always strived to hear, ‘well done My good and faithful servant.'”

Last night Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, spoke publicly for the first time after he was killed in Utah on Wednesday.

Here’s what she said:

• Mrs Kirk vowed to never let Charlie’s legacy die, adding that his message will carry on being shared through his campus tour of US universities and his podcast – she did not specify how they would continue
• She said to the killer: “You have no idea the fire that you ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry”
• She thanked Kirk’s staff, Vice-President JD Vance, and President Donald Trump, she addressed the president directly: “You supported him so well, as did he for you”
• On their children, she said she was grappling with how to tell their children, aged one and three, about Charlie’s sudden death
• In a message directed to her husband, she said: “I can’t wait to see you again one day”