On Sept. 10, 2025, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Deseret News reporters Emma Pitts and Eva Terry were on the ground covering the event when the shooting happened. Reporter Brigham Tomco had just published an in-depth profile of Kirk days before his death and was the first journalist to confirm that the shooting had been fatal.
One year later, the three sit down to reflect on what they saw, what they’ve learned and how the assassination reshaped the way they think about political violence, faith and the purpose of journalism.
They discuss the moments immediately after the shooting, including a prayer they said while crouched beneath a desk; the rise of nihilism and isolation among Gen Z; how dehumanization on social media fuels real-world violence; and why the search for truth still matters in an environment clouded by conspiracy.