TEMPE, Ariz. – The Charlie Kirk statue outside of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) was vandalized just days after the one-year mark of the assassination.
What we know:
Phoenix Police received calls about the vandalism at the late conservative activists’ memorial in Tempe just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 13.
Red spray paint covered the 8-foot-tall bronze statue, which was unveiled on Sept. 10 at TPUSA’s headquarters near 48th Street and Beverly Road. The paint covered his face and the area on his neck where he was shot at Utah Valley University. A sad face can be seen on the torso, while red covered the left hand and hats.
On Kirk’s memorial, an X covered his face, while “Jesus” was seemingly crossed out.
On Sept. 10, Utah-based sculptor Quintin McCann told FOX 10 he started sculpting Kirk’s likeness almost immediately after his assassination.
“Someone’s death, who I’ve never met, has never impacted me so much. And I’m sure many people can agree. And I just stayed at work that evening and just started sculpting his portrait,” McCann said.
The backstory:
Kirk, who was the co-founder of TPUSA, was speaking during a Turning Point event at a college in Utah when he was shot in the neck. He later died at a nearby hospital.
The days following the deadly shooting, Tyler Robinson was arrested for his murder. He has since pleaded not guilty to charges, but if convicted, could face the death penalty.
What they’re saying:
TPUSA said they are reviewing surveillance video of the defacement that happened in the overnight hours.
Charlie’s wife, Erika Kirk, responded to the vandalism Sunday, saying in part, “They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it will only spread it further. Every attempt to tear down what Charlie built makes us root deeper and work even harder.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell reacted to the vandalism Sunday, saying these acts will not be tolerated.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to call Phoenix Police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered by the Phoenix Police Department, Turning Point USA’s social media, and previous FOX reports.