A bronze statue of Charlie Kirk was vandalized just days after it was unveiled at Turning Point USA's headquarters in the Ahwatukee Foothills.
Mourners and local leaders gathered on Sept. 10 to mark one year since Kirk was shot and killed at age 31 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.
Artist Quintin McCann designed the statue that depicts Kirk tossing baseball caps in his “FREEDOM” T-shirt, a cross hanging from his neck.
By Sept. 13, the statue and memorial poster were doused in red paint. The poster featured a photo of Kirk, his face now covered with a red X. The statue with Kirk's face also had a red X through it, and there was red paint around the figure's neck and on a baseball hat.
Phoenix police officers put up caution tape
but would not comment on the incident.
Kirk was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative powerhouse that blended political organizing, media and fundraising to become a force during the Trump era. Kirk was known for sharing his controversial views on the popular “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast and by debating liberal students on college campuses.
This is a developing story. Check back on azcentral.com for more details.
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The Republic's Stephanie Murray contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Charlie Kirk statue vandalized days after Turning Point unveiling
