Washington: A day Charlie Kirk was fatally shot dead while hosting a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump announced that the 31-year-old Republican activist will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American civilian honour.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. 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,” Trump said on Thursday.
Kirk, a podcast and radio commentator, was a close ally of President Trump, who admired him for boosting Republican support among young voters.
Almost 20 hours after what Utah Governor Spencer Cox said was a political assassination, the killer is still at large.
However, the bolt-action rifle used to shoot down Kirk has been found, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Thursday.
FBI also released two photos of a “person of interest” related to the shooting of Kirk. The photos show a person wearing a cap, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt.
Investigators appealed to the public for information.
Police said that the suspect “appears to be of college age”.
The shooting, which was recorded in disturbing detail and circulated online, took place while Kirk was speaking on stage at an outdoor event titled ‘Prove Me Wrong’ before an audience of around 3,000 people at Utah Valley University.