US President, Donald Trump has announced that he will be soon awarding Charlie Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump made this remark while standing outside the Pentagon for the memorial services marking the 24th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
The United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by Presidents to people who have made significant contributions in a variety of areas, including culture and public service.
In his first term, Trump bestowed the honor to a number of people, including conservative firebrand commentator Rush Limbaugh.
“The date of the ceremony will be announced, and I can only guarantee you one thing, that we will have a very big crowd.”
Donald Trump
Trump stated that Kirk was a “giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.”
“Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika and his beautiful children, fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”
Donald Trump
Charlie Kirk, a conservative American activist and influential ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead at a university event in the state of Utah in an apparent targeted assassination.
He was speaking at a debate at Utah Valley University when authorities say a shooter fired a single round from a rooftop, with video showing Kirk reaching up with his right hand as blood gushed from the left side of his neck.
FBI Recovers Weapon Believed To Have Been Used To Kill Charlie Kirk
Speaking to the press, Robert Bohls, the Special Agent in charge of the FBI Salt Lake Field Office, disclosed that officials have recovered a “high powered bolt action rifle” they believe to be the weapon used to kill Charlie Kirk in yesterday’s shooting.
Bohls said that a rifle was recovered “in a wooded area where the shooter had fled” and the FBI laboratory will be “analyzing this weapon.”
He added that investigators have also collected “footwear, impression, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis.”
Also, the Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, Beau Mason, asked the public to be ‘patient’ as they continue for the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk.
He added that the two individuals that were taken into custody, who were later released, “were not suspects” but “people of interest.” Mason said that federal and state officers “do not deserve harassment” as they continue their investigation.
Mason stated that officials have been able to trace the shooters movement after the attack. He stated, “He moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building, and fled off of the campus into a neighborhood.”
Mason went on to say that investigators “do have good video footage of this individual,” but said they would not release the footage at this time.
“We’re working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual. If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to you as the media, and we will push that publicly to help us identify them.”
Beau Mason
Mason gave limited information about the suspect that is still at large. He did say that the shooter “blended in” and “appears to be of college age.”
Special Agent Bohls asserted that he did not believe the wider community to be at risk with the shooter still not in custody. He said they’re treating the attack as a “targeted event.”
Bohls said that the FBI has received more than 130 tips, which are being “fully investigated.”
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