Three high-profile NFL stars have expressed their anger at the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah on Wednesday.
The conservative commentator, 31, died after being shot in the neck while he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University.
Father-of-two Kirk was hit by a single bullet while speaking to a crowd at the public university in Orem. He collapsed immediately after being hit by the gunfire and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A suspect has now been captured following a major manhunt by the FBI and Utah police.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was born in the Utah city of Kaysville, said he is disgusted after watching a viral clip of the terrifying moment. He took to social media to champion Kirk as someone who ‘did great things for our country’.
The Giants rookie wrote on his Instagram story alongside a video of the shooting, which he has since deleted: ‘This is some bull s*** man!!! Absolutely sickening!!!’
Three high-profile NFL stars have expressed their anger at the assassination of Charlie Kirk
Utah native and Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart said he was ‘sickened’ by the shooting
The Giants rookie fumed over the ‘sickening’ attack in a now-deleted post on Instagram
‘Praying for him and his family,’ he continued along with a heartbroken emoji after posting a photo of Kirk holding one of his children. ‘Charlie did great things for our country!! Political Violence NEEDS TO STOP!!
‘Pray for our country man. This is disgusting and Sad!!!’
Dart then shared a post from Team Trump titled ‘Pray for Charlie Kirk’ and commented alongside it: ‘May God watch over him and his family!’
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t reference the incident directly but reposted a poignant message on his X account.
It read: ‘Celebrating the death of someone you don’t share the same beliefs as is wild. Seeing it play out in real time is disgusting.’
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also spoke out on Kirk’s murder, posting: ‘Thank you for your strong witness for Christ @charliekirk11.
‘Thank you for pursuing truth and leading your family as a husband and father. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen’
Butker then reposted two of Kirk’s historic tweets that read ‘It’s all about Jesus’ and ‘Jesus defeated death so you can live.’
He also shared a photo of Kirk with one of his children and heaped praise on the ‘great things’ he has done for America
He also shared a screenshot of messages he shared with Kirk where the MAGA influencer sent Butker a Bible passage.
Other sports figures have spoken out on the devastating scenes in Utah, including former NFL linebacker and podcast host Will Compton.
‘This Charlie Kirk news is insane and incredibly sad,’ Compton wrote on X before Kirk passed away. ‘Seeing the family photos with his wife and kids breaks my heart and I’m praying for a miracle that he makes it’.
He then added about the disturbing footage circulating online: ‘I’d advise to not watch the close up video’.
Barstool Sports chief Dave Portnoy also posted: ‘Absolutely disgusting and disturbing video from Charlie Kirk shooting today. Hoping for the best for him and his family. Anybody who is happy about this is a disgusting human.’
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzvewith whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
The MAGA star, wearing a white t-shirt, was sitting inside a tented gazebo when a bullet entered his neck, causing his head to violently collapse backwards.
A single shot rang out and Kirk was seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushed from the left side of his neck.
The 31-year-old is married and shares two young children with wife Erika Frantzve (pictured)
Stunned spectators were heard gasping and screaming before people started to run away and those closest to Kirk rushed to his aid.
UVU officials said the shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, about 200 feet away from where Kirk was sitting.
They initially took an elderly man into custody who turned out not to be the shooter, police said.
Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death and posted a moving tribute to him on Truth Social.
‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,’ the president said.
‘No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’
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