Conservative advocates linked with a high-profile influencer shot dead in the US say they’re shaken and in disbelief.
Pro-Trump activist Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing students at Utah Valley University in Orem, south of Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, US time.
The attack is being described as a “political assassination” by American officials.
The 31-year-old co-founded the right-wing group Turning Point USA in 2012, which sought to influence young Americans and found fame through viral clips on social media.
The head of Turning Point’s Australian outfit Joel Jammal said he was devastated by Mr Kirk’s death and compared him to a martyred prophet.
“Often, prophets are made most powerful when they’ve been martyred, and I think that’s what’s going to happen with Charlie Kirk,” Mr Jammal told AAP.
“I think (the killing) is going to solidify his vision, his movement.
“His vision set down the pathway to show how we can breathe our values into politics.”
Australian leaders have condemned the shooting.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said his thoughts went out to Mr Kirk’s family.
“There is absolutely no place for political violence,” he told ABC TV on Thursday.
“That’s the message that we have to take from this … that is not a way in which to resolve arguments and disputes and discussions in society.”
Liberal senator James Paterson echoed Mr Marles’ comments, noting the attack followed an attempt on US President Donald Trump’s life in 2024.
“It does seem that there has been an uptick in this sort of violence recently, and that is not a good thing,” he told Sky News.
“It’s a reminder for all of us in public life to be measured and calm.”
Mr Jammal agreed with the calls.
“There’s a sentiment that we’ve got to turn down the rhetoric,” he said.
In a post on X, former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott said Mr Kirk “championed the pursuit of open debate and intellectual freedom in places of education”.
Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd said he was thinking of Mr Kirk’s family.
“The death of Charlie Kirk today is deeply distressing. There is no space for political violence in any democracy,” he said in a statement on social media.
The gunman is still at large and FBI agents are investigating the killing.
The bureau says it detained a suspect over the shooting but then released them.
“If anyone … celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters.
“I don’t care what his politics are, I care that he was an American.”