Utah
Students at Utah university where Kirk was killed vow to continue his debates
Christal HayesBBC News, reporting from Utah
BBC / Christal HayesScott Sperry jotted his name down on a sign-up sheet.
The 22-year-old student at Utah Valley University had watched Charlie Kirk’s videos for years and credits the conservative firebrand with being a catalyst in his own political involvement.
Now, on this Thursday afternoon, moments before his political hero was about to speak on campus, Mr Sperry thought it was time for him to pay it forward by joining its chapter of Turning Point USA – the organisation Kirk co-founded in 2012 to advocate for conservatism on college campuses.
Moments after taking his front-row seat to see Kirk speak, Mr Sperry watched in shock 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 to join.
“When you try to silence a voice like this, they don’t go away – you only amplify it,” the second-year student said. “There are now going to be a million Charlie Kirks, and I feel like that’s the thing that we need to do.”
As the immediate shock of the attack calms, some at Utah Valley University said it has been replaced with a deep sense of resolve to continue what Kirk began.
Students with various political ideologies – including those vehemently opposed to Kirk’s beliefs – told the BBC they’ve felt a personal sense of responsibility to ensure healthy debates on college campuses continue.
With branches at more than 850 colleges, Turning Point USA – which Kirk co-founded when he was just 18 – has been credited with helping galvanise younger voters and helping Donald Trump win the White House.
Kirk, who had millions of followers online, would often tour college campuses across the country to debate issues like gender, race, gun control and immigration. His views – and his confrontational style – often drew criticism from the left and attracted protestors to his on-campus events.
At a speaking event at San Francisco State University last spring, one student called him a “rage baiter” while others accused him of using real-life students as “click-bait” – he often posted his heated arguments with liberals online, where the exchanges would go viral.
BBC / Christal HayesThe killing has thrown Utah Valley University into the centre of America’s political divide. Soon after Kirk was shot, some who disagreed with him took to social media to blame Kirk, who has openly supported gun ownership. On the right, pundits and politicians said that conservatives were under attack by the “radical left”.
The spotlight has made some students feel the need to step into the ideological fray.
“This is the first political thing we’ve ever done. We’re not political like this,” first-year student McKinley Shinkle said, while waving signs with his cousin on campus that called Kirk a hero and said they aren’t afraid.
“This happening on our campus and then seeing people who are supporting the shooting – it just kind of radicalised us,” he added, nothing they’re both planning to continue political involvement. “It’s changed everything.”
Nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains, Utah Valley is the biggest university in the state. It sits on a hill, overlooking a crisp blue lake and a 218-feet-tall granite temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The state, which is also a conservative stronghold, has the largest concentration of Mormons in the US and religion plays a leading role in this community.
Many have expressed confusion about why Kirk was targeted here. Ben Forster, a second-year student, noted how Kirk often stopped in much more liberal-leaning areas where he could have been more of a target.
“This is now where his martyrdom was established,” he said, reflecting on his university. “I mean, that is what martyrdom is: He was killed at a debate.”
Despite not agreeing with Kirk’s stances, Mr Forster attended Wednesday’s event in Utah to watch the spectacle and hear the varying viewpoints – something he hopes will not cease at his university and others after the attack.
“I don’t care about what his opinions were,” he said. “He was exercising his right in a public forum to talk and discuss – and that is a good thing.”
The signs of what happened here are everywhere you look near campus.
Law enforcement blocking entrances, makeshift memorials with candles and flowers, signs in apartment windows and on roads declaring Kirk a hero after he was gunned down in front of thousands during one of his signature college campus debates.
Some students told the BBC they’ve been leaning on one another in the aftermath – with some discussing what happens next. It’s clear part of that future will include a political awakening for some on campus.
Several students made defiant posters, hanging them in their apartment windows with messages reading, “freedom” and “you can’t kill the truth”. A campaign-style merch display near campus is selling Trump hats and flags. All day and all night, people drive through the traffic circle entrance to campus, beeping their horns – either supporting or in opposition to Kirk.
BBC / Christal HayesJeb Jacobi, another second-year student, has been involved with the university’s Turning Point USA chapter for years and was volunteering at Wednesday’s event – the first stop on Kirk’s planned 15-site “American Comeback Tour” of college campuses.
He got involved after becoming a fan of Kirk’s trademark debates on campuses.
“I just liked that he really made people think,” he said. “No matter your politics, he would get so many young people involved and intrigued. He provided a path for people to get involved.”
“Something like this – it’s only going to really help what Charlie was doing,” Mr Jacobi added, saying he believes the number of people involved in the Turning Point USA chapter will balloon.
One of those new additions: Mr Sperry.
“We’re going to lead the way,” he said. “We owe it to Charlie.”
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A man died after he was caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.
A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that Kevin Williams, 57, had died.
He, along with one other person, was hospitalized in critical condition after Saturday’s avalanche in the backcountry.
MORE | Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanche
In an interview with 2News earlier this week, one of Williams’ close friends, Nate Burbidge, described him as a loving family man.
“Kevin’s an amazing guy. He’s always serving, looking for ways that he can connect with others,” Burbidge said.
A GoFundMe was set up to help support Williams’ family.
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CONTENT WARNING: This report discusses suicide and includes descriptions of audio from 911 calls that some viewers may find disturbing.
LAS VEGAS — Exclusively obtained 911 recordings detail the hours leading up to the discovery of an 11-year-old Utah girl and her mother dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent murder-suicide.
Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, lived in West Jordan and had traveled to Nevada for the JAMZ cheerleading competition.
The calls show a growing sense of urgency from family members and coaches, and several hours passing before relatives learned what happened.
MORE | Murder-Suicide
Below is a timeline of the key moments, according to dispatch records. All times are Pacific Time.
10:33 a.m. — Call 1
After Addi and her mother failed to appear at the cheerleading competition, Addi’s father and stepmother called dispatch for a welfare check.
Addi and her mother were staying at the Rio hotel. The father told dispatch that hotel security had already attempted contact.
“Security went up and knocked on the door. There’s no answer or response it doesn’t look like they checked out or anything…”
11:18 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. — Calls 2 and 3
As concern grew, Addi’s coach contacted the police two times within minutes.
“We think the child possibly is in imminent danger…”
11:26 a.m. — Call 4
Addi’s stepmother placed another call to dispatch, expressing escalating concern.
“We are extremely concerned we believe that something might have seriously happened.”
She said that Tawnia’s car was still at the hotel.
Police indicated officers were on the way.
2:26 p.m. — Call 5
Nearly three hours after the initial welfare check request, fire personnel were en route to the scene. It appeared they had been in contact with hotel security.
Fire told police that they were responding to a possible suicide.
“They found a note on the door.”
2:35 p.m. — Call 6
Emergency medical personnel at the scene told police they had located two victims.
“It’s going to be gunshot wound to the head for both patients with notes”
A dispatcher responded:
“Oh my goodness that’s not okay.”
2:36 p.m. — Call 7
Moments later, fire personnel relayed their assessment to law enforcement:
“It’s going to be a murder suicide, a juvenile and a mother.”
2:39 p.m. — Call 8
Unaware of what had been discovered, Addi’s father called dispatch again.
“I’m trying to file a missing persons report for my daughter.”
He repeats the details he knows for the second time.
3:13 p.m. — Call 9
Father and stepmother call again seeking information and continue to press for answers.
“We just need some information. There was a room check done around 3:00 we really don’t know where to start with all of this Can we have them call us back immediately?”
Dispatch responded:
“As soon as there’s a free officer, we’ll have them reach out to you.”
4:05 p.m. — Call 10
More than an hour later, Addi’s father was put in contact with the police on the scene. He pleaded for immediate action.
“I need someone there I need someone there looking in that room”
The officer confirmed that they had officers currently in the room.
Addi’s father asks again what they found, if Addi and her mother are there, and if their things were missing.
The officer, who was not on scene, said he had received limited information.
5:23 p.m. — Call 11
Nearly seven hours after the first welfare check request, Addi’s grandmother contacted police, describing conflicting information circulating within the family.
“Some people are telling us that they were able to get in, and they were not in the hotel room, and other people saying they were not able to get in the hotel room, and we need to know”
She repeated the details of the case. Dispatch said officers will call her back once they have more information.
Around 8:00 p.m. — Press Conference
Later that evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a news conference confirming that Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found dead inside the hotel room.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — AI glasses could allow you to get answers, snap photos, access audio and take phone calls—and now a proposal moving through the legislature would ban the glasses from Utah school classrooms.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kizzy Guyton Murphy, a mother who accompanied her child’s class on a field trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday. “You can’t see inside what the student is looking at, and it’s just grounds for cheating.”
Mom Tristan Davies Seamons also sees trouble with AI glasses.
“I don’t think they should have any more technology in schools than they currently have,” she said.
Her twin daughters, fourth graders Finley and Grayson, don’t have cell phones yet.
“Not until we’re like 14,” said Grayson, adding they do have Chromebooks in school.
2News sent questions to the Utah State Board of Education:
- Does it have reports of students using AI glasses?
- Does it see cheating and privacy as major concerns?
- Does it support a ban from classrooms?
Matt Winters, USBE AI specialist, said the board has not received reports from school districts of students with AI glasses.
“Local Education Agencies (school districts) have local control over these decisions based on current law and code,” said Winters. “The Board has not taken a position on AI glasses.
MORE | Utah State Legislature:
Some districts across the country have reportedly put restrictions on the glasses in schools.
“I think it should be up to the teachers,” said Briauna Later, another mother who is all for preventing cheating, but senses a ban could leave administrators with tired eyes.
“It’s one more thing for the administration to have to keep track of,” said Later.
The proposal, HB 42, passed the House and cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday.
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