The shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is the latest in a disturbing rise in politically motivated killings and assassination attempts, according to a Northeastern University criminologist. Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking event outdoors on the Utah Valley University campus. Graphic footage of the shooting circulated on social media Wednesday, showing the moment Kirk was struck in the neck by a bullet before he was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
There were two assassination attempts on President Donald Trump—both occurring during the 2024 campaign. In two separate incidents earlier this year, a Minnesota lawmaker was killed in her home, and another, along with his wife, survived an assassination attempt. In December, United Health Group’s CEO was shot and killed on a sidewalk in Manhattan. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the fatal shooting a “political assassination”—as did Trump and others.
