The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech. The shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has shaken the nation, sparking grief, outrage, and renewed conversations about political violence in America.
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a well-known voice in conservative politics, was shot and killed on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, while speaking to a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate. According to university officials, a single gunshot rang out around 12:20 p.m., just 20 minutes into his remarks.
John Jay Wiley a retired law enforcement officer, reflecting on the tragedy, noted the chilling precision of the attack. “I saw the news reports about the shooting of Charlie Kirk as he was speaking at Utah Valley University,” he said. “I’m grateful that I didn’t see the live video or the actual shooting. During my career as a Baltimore City Police Officer - Sergeant, I investigated too many shooting deaths. This one struck me immediately as the work of a sniper.”
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John explained why the incident appeared to be carefully planned. “First, the sniper position was clearly from a distance, which meant the shooter did not want to be caught. Second, it reminded me of other politically motivated assassinations I’ve seen in my lifetime. And third, Kirk was targeted not because of what he did, but because of what he said. His speech was silenced by violence.”
The Attack
The FBI quickly identified the shooting as a targeted attack. Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City office confirmed that investigators had recovered a “high-powered, bolt-action rifle” believed to be the weapon used. They also collected foot, palm, and forearm imprints linked to the crime. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech.
Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts revealed that the shooter entered a campus building around 11:52 a.m., climbed to a rooftop, and waited until Kirk’s event began at noon. At approximately 12:20, a single shot was fired. The assassin then fled, leaping from the opposite side of the building into a nearby neighborhood.
The FBI released images of a person of interest described as a thin male wearing jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt with an American flag graphic, black sunglasses, and a hat. A $100,000 reward was announced for information leading to an arrest.
A Nation Reacts
Charlie Kirk’s death drew swift reactions from leaders across the political spectrum. Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the attack, calling it an “assassination.” President Donald Trump also weighed in, delivering a forceful address from the Oval Office.
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“Liberal rhetoric against conservatives is directly responsible for the terrorism we’re seeing in our country today,” Trump said. “It must stop right now. We will find those responsible for this cowardly act and the organizations that fund and support them.” The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech.
Charlie Kirk’s Legacy
Charles James Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was a polarizing but undeniably influential figure in American politics. Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Kirk was drawn to activism during his high school years. He briefly attended Harper College before leaving to pursue politics full-time, inspired by the Tea Party movement.
In 2012, Kirk founded Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to promoting conservative values on college campuses. The group rapidly grew in influence, often sparking controversy with initiatives such as the Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist. In later years, Kirk expanded his reach with Turning Point Action and Turning Point Faith, focusing on political advocacy and mobilizing religious communities.
Described by The Washington Post as “one of the most prominent voices on the right,” Kirk became a regular fixture on national media, building a large following among young conservatives.
Reflections and Resolve
For some who watched the tragedy unfold from afar, the event was not only shocking but deeply personal. “I did not know Charlie Kirk personally,” John Jay Wiley the retired police sergeant and host of the Nationally Syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show admitted. “But from what I saw of him, I respected his approach to free speech and open engagement. My thoughts and prayers go out to his widow, their children, and his entire family.” The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech.
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He added that Kirk’s assassination only strengthened his resolve to speak out. “I’m motivated to do more, say more, and be more outspoken against hate-filled accusations spread by politicians and amplified by a biased legacy media. More than ever, I stand opposed to political violence carried out by cowards like the perpetrator who silenced Charlie Kirk.”
As the investigation continues and the nation grapples with another politically motivated killing, one truth remains clear: the attack on Charlie Kirk was not just an assault on a man, but an attack on free speech itself. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech.
John "Jay" Wiley is a retired Baltimore Police Sergeant. His law enforcement career was cut short by a crime of violence, that left him with lifelong disabling injuries. After retiring from police work, he began to pursue a career in broadcasting. He has worked as a radio personality for more than 19 years and is the host of the syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show, episodes are converted to a Free Podcast after airing on radio. It is currently a top .05% ranked podcast worldwide.
The photo of Charlie Kirk is by Gage Skidmore and was made available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.
Attributions
Fox News
CBS News
New York Times
Wikipedia
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Tragic Day for Free Speech.
John J Wiley
Radio Show Host and Producer
Retired from the Baltimore Police Department at the rank of Sergeant. He was retired early due a permanent line of duty injury that occurred during an act of violence. The injury resulted in 3 surgeries, two steel plates and a fusion of his right wrist and thumb.
About 8 years after retiring from police work, he began a career in the audio broadcasting space. Starting with "audio-blogs" in 1999. Which progressed into a brokered once a week radio show and then led to broadcasting school.
After graduating he has been a full time FM radio personality and launched the Law Enforcement Today Show as a podcast in March of 2017. This was in a partnership with Law Enforcement Today's Robert Greenberg. The show was quickly recruited by radio and is a nationally syndicated radio show, broadcasting weekly on many US Radio Stations to millions of people.
The partnership with them ended in the Summer of 2023 and the show was renamed the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast.
The radio show is syndicated by Talk Media Network. Go to the Radio Page of the site for more information.
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