Lawyers say the bullet in Kirk’s case may not match the alleged murder weapon
An attorney for the man accused of shooting Charlie Kirk to death says federal authorities have not linked the bullet autopsy to the suspected murder weapon.
Utah Valley University has dropped Shannon McMahon as a commencement speaker after conservative groups criticized her for past comments about Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on campus during his comeback tour of the United States in September.
The university announced on April 16 that it will no longer have a featured speaker after consultation with public safety officials and New York Times bestselling author and educator McMahon. The entrance ceremony is scheduled for April 29th.
“Due to heightened safety concerns related to speakers, after consultation with public safety experts and Sharon McMahon, Utah Valley University has decided to proceed with this year’s commencement ceremony without a featured commencement speaker,” university officials told local broadcaster KUTV.
According to Salt Lake City television station KUTV, McMahon’s selection came under scrutiny over comments she made after Kirk’s assassination on UVU’s campus earlier this year.
The post was later deleted, but was published shortly after Kirk’s death. In it, McMahon criticized her rhetoric and referred to what she described as a backlash to the public reaction following McMahon’s assassination.
“It’s important to remember that the incredible tragedy of his public assassination does not erase the harm so many experienced by his words and the subsequent actions of his supporters,” one post read.
Canceled following Kirk’s death
Mr. McMahon joins dozens of people who have come under fire for comments made after Mr. Kirk’s death. In the most high-profile incident, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had his show taken off the air following comments about Kirk’s assassination.
Kimmel was suspended for six days after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr publicly criticized the comedian’s comments. The suspension was rescinded following a massive public outcry, with politicians on both sides of the aisle claiming it was an attempt by the government to censor free speech.
More than 100 people, including educators, lawyers, doctors and first responders, have been fired, suspended, reprimanded or investigated for their comments after Kirk’s assassination, according to a USA TODAY analysis.
USA TODAY’s Taijuan Moorman, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Phaedra Trethan contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
