New York Leaders React with Shock and Outrage After Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting on Utah Campus

By: Fern Sidman

Political leaders across New York expressed shock, grief, and outrage on Wednesday evening following the stunning news that Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while hosting an event at Utah Valley University.

According to a report on Wednesday afternoon on WPIX-11 News, Kirk had been speaking at a campus event when gunfire erupted. Witnesses described a scene of panic as students and attendees rushed to safety. The 30-year-old conservative activist, long known as one of the most prominent voices in right-leaning youth politics, was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Hours later, President Donald Trump confirmed that Kirk had died of his injuries.

The attack — which unfolded in broad daylight in what was supposed to be an academic setting — sent shockwaves through New York’s political class, prompting bipartisan condemnation and urgent calls for unity against political violence.

Governor Kathy Hochul was among the first New York leaders to react. As WPIX-11 News highlighted in its coverage, Hochul posted a somber message on social media: “I was horrified when I saw the reports from Utah. Political violence has no place in our country.”

Hochul, who has often been a sharp critic of conservative activists like Kirk, nevertheless underscored that differences in political philosophy should never justify bloodshed. Her comments framed the tragedy as not only a loss of life but also a symptom of a deeper crisis in American civic life.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has spent much of his tenure prioritizing public safety, echoed similar sentiments. “We may disagree on the issues,” Adams said, “but gun violence has no place in our country. Our prayers are with Charlie Kirk, his family, and everyone else affected by today’s shooting.”

As WPIX-11 News reported, Adams’ statement emphasized that regardless of one’s political stance, the reliance on violence to settle differences corrodes the very foundation of democracy.

Former New York City Council Republican leader Joe Borelli, visibly shaken by the news, posted a photo of Kirk, describing the tragedy as “surreal.” “Prayers for Charlie and his family,” he added.

The reaction was notable not just among Republicans but across party lines. Even Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City and a progressive often at odds with conservative figures like Kirk, issued a forceful condemnation.

“I’m horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah,” Mamdani said, according to WPIX-11 News. His words carried weight in a political landscape too often defined by division.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is once again active in New York politics as a mayoral candidate, struck a similarly grave tone. “While details and motivations are still unknown, my prayers are with Charlie Kirk, the students, and all impacted. Political violence is becoming too common and too often celebrated. It must be universally condemned by everyone, everywhere,” Cuomo stated.

Republican Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov — who has long described herself as a defender of Jewish communities and conservative values in New York — called Kirk’s death a tragedy with implications far beyond Utah.

“We live in a sick society,” Vernikov said. “Please pray for him, his wife, and his two young children. This changes everything.”

Her comments, as highlighted in the WPIX-11 News report, reflect a broader sentiment that Kirk’s killing may represent not only a personal tragedy but also a turning point in America’s ongoing struggle with political violence.

The New York State Conservative Party issued an emotional statement mourning Kirk’s death: “A good man has died today. He and his family are in our prayers. An assassin’s bullet may have taken his physical presence away, but his thoughts, his philosophy, his hard work, and his love for our nation will carry on.”

The statement, carried by WPIX-11 News, stressed how deeply Kirk’s death reverberates within conservative circles — particularly in New York, where Turning Point USA had an active base of supporters and campus chapters.

Charlie Kirk rose to prominence over the past decade as one of the most recognizable faces of the American conservative youth movement. Through Turning Point USA, he cultivated a network of student activists across college campuses, framing the organization as a counterweight to what he described as liberal dominance in academia.

As WPIX-11 News noted in its retrospective reporting on Kirk’s life, he was frequently invited onto national television programs, wrote books aimed at young conservatives, and became a key surrogate in Republican politics, particularly during the Trump administration.

Kirk was a galvanizing force for a generation of conservative students who saw themselves as marginalized within university culture.

While investigators in Utah continue to search for the shooter’s motives, the broader context of the attack was not lost on New York leaders.

“Political violence has become too common,” Cuomo observed. His remarks reflect a growing bipartisan concern that America’s partisan divides are increasingly spilling into violence — whether at campaign rallies, protests, or on college campuses.

WPIX-11 News has documented the rise in politically motivated violence across the United States in recent years, citing federal law enforcement data showing significant spikes in domestic terrorism cases linked to political extremism.

The killing of Kirk, many fear, could serve as both a rallying cry and a dangerous escalation point in an already polarized nation.

Several leaders suggested that Kirk’s death should serve as a catalyst for reflection, not retaliation. Hochul urged calm, emphasizing that “violence is never the answer.” Adams reiterated that communities must come together to “build safer streets and safer campuses.”

Others, like Vernikov, warned that the tragedy underscored the urgency of cultural change. “This is about more than just guns,” she said. “This is about a society where hate has been normalized, and where political differences have become grounds for violence.”

As news of Kirk’s death spread, vigils were planned across campuses and within Turning Point USA’s national network. In New York, student chapters of the organization told WPIX-11 News that they would gather for prayer and reflection in honor of Kirk’s legacy.

President Trump, in announcing Kirk’s passing, called him “a warrior for the conservative cause and a great American.” The president’s words, echoed by allies and critics alike, underscored how the 30-year-old activist had become a symbol of youthful energy in right-wing politics.

The killing of Charlie Kirk has left a nation stunned — and a political class grappling with the gravity of its implications.

From Hochul to Adams, from Cuomo to Mamdani, New York leaders — often bitterly divided on matters of ideology — spoke with one voice in condemning the shooting. WPIX-11 News has highlighted this rare unity as evidence of just how seriously politicians across the spectrum are taking the threat of political violence.

But even as condolences poured in, questions remained: Who carried out the attack? Why? And what does Kirk’s death mean for a country already struggling with the corrosive effects of polarization and violence?

For now, leaders in New York and across the nation are calling for calm, reflection, and a renewed commitment to the principle that disagreements must be settled with words — not bullets. Yet, as theWPIX-11 News report poignantly noted, the loss of Charlie Kirk has left a void in American public life, one that will not soon be filled.

Charlie Kirk stood for free speech and open discourse, for many of the moral policy positions of the CJV, and for tireless advocacy for Jewish civil rights including in the Jewish homeland. His murder is a tragedy not only for his family and fans, but for all who value the right to free speech, open discourse, and to live in a society free of hate.”

The Republican Governors Association Chair Georgia Governor Brian Kemp released the following statement on behalf of the nation’s Republican governors on the death of Charlie Kirk:

“We are absolutely devastated by the news that America has lost Charlie Kirk.

“Charlie recently said, ‘leave a legacy and be courageous,’ and that’s exactly what he did. Charlie was a true American patriot who started a movement all across America that brought young people into the public square like we haven’t seen in decades. His passion for our nation, for free speech, and for vigorous debate was evident in everything he did and every cause he touched.

“We Republican governors join millions of Americans in mourning Charlie’s death, and our strongest prayers are with his wife Erika and their young children. Charlie taught young people to not only love their country, but to also prioritize faith and family — and that’s how he lived his life.

“Charlie’s horrific assassination is nothing short of evil. Political violence is never the answer, and it must stop. Charlie demonstrated how to debate our differences — through words and through action. His passing leaves a gigantic void in our national dialogue.”

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton “Mort” Klein, mourned the murder of Charlie Kirk, calling him “a personal friend and an ally who loved Israel and the Jewish people, was slated to speak at the ZOA National Gala in November.”

Klein shared: “Charlie Kirk was a great man, a personal friend and an ally who loved Israel and the Jewish people. I had the pleasure of walking all over Jerusalem with him and sitting for an incredible interview with him on his radio show where for over an hour, Charlie asked great questions to better understand the Arab-Islamist war against Israel, the Jewish people and the West.

When I asked him several weeks ago to speak at the Zionist Organization of America’s national gala, he was thrilled and was excitedly looking forward to addressing our strong Zionist audience.

Charlie was extremely smart, knowledgeable, well read and an authoritative yet genuine voice who could speak on virtually every subject, capable of responding to those debating and critiquing him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie’s family during this time.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition said in a statement that they are “shocked and grieving at the murder of our dear friend Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no place in this country. There is no reason, no excuse, no political view, no issue that justifies violence against a fellow American.

Charlie has been a shining light in these troubled times for the American Jewish community, and we are deeply saddened at his passing. All people of good will must condemn this horrific murder and demand justice for Charlie.

Charlie was a fearless advocate for freedom, a supporter of Israel and the Jewish people, and a friend. He was cut down while doing what he loved to do, communicating with the next generation of American leaders on college campuses about the issues that affect us all. We will not let this murderer win. We will continue Charlie’s work, alongside Turning Point USA and other strong conservative voices.

Our thoughts are with his family, including his wife and two young children. We are diminished by his loss. May his memory be a blessing.”