The New York Yankees held a minute’s silence to honor Charlie Kirk after the political activist’s assassination at Utah on Wednesday.
The conservative commentator, 31, was shot at 12.20pm during a rally at Utah Valley University by a gunman who was caught on camera dashing across a rooftop in the moments after he opened fire.
Yankee Stadium came to a standstill just before their game against the Detroit Lions as players, coaches and fans all paid their respects.
The team’s X account posted: ‘Before tonight’s game we held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk.
‘Kirk founded the youth activist group “Turning Point USA” and had become a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.’
It comes just 24 hours before Donald Trump is expected at Yankee Stadium to watch them play on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The New York Yankees held a minute’s silence to honor Charlie Kirk after his assassination
Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University before he was shot and killed
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. Eerie footage in the aftermath shows a shadowy figure in the distance running across the roof of the Lossee Center.
‘This is a dark day for our state. It´s a tragic day for our nation,’ said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. ‘I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.’
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
Authorities did not immediately identify the person in custody, a motive or any criminal charges, but the circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to an escalating threat of political violence in America.
The FBI, which investigates such acts, was helping lead the inquiry, though officials said at this point they had no reason to believe a second person was involved.
Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans ‘The American Comeback’ and ‘Prove Me Wrong.’
A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.
The shooter, who Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away.
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions for an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.
Charlie Kirk leaves behind wife, Erika Frantzve, and a son, three, and a daughter, 16 months.
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!’
