Ben Shapiro said he will stop making outdoor public appearances following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college campus, citing what he described as an inability to secure outdoor stages against potential attackers.
Shapiro made the comments in an interview with The Free Press two days after Kirk, 31, was shot while debating students at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the case, and prosecutors said the suspect could face the death penalty if convicted.
Kirk was struck in the neck during the campus event and collapsed, witnesses said, prompting attendees to flee. Law enforcement officials have said Robinson was identified after a two-day manhunt that ended when his father recognized him in photos released by the FBI and confronted him. Investigators said a transgender housemate of the suspect has been cooperating with authorities.
In the interview, Shapiro said he has instructed his security team that he will no longer accept outdoor events because "there are too many vantage points, there are too many overlooks" to guarantee safety. He said he has employed round-the-clock security for about a decade and does not plan to stop speaking or appearing at colleges, but that the nature of security at events will have to change.
"I'm sure that I am not the only one this year, because if what Charlie died for means anything, it means that we have to keep actually going into these spaces and having these debates," Shapiro said, adding that security measures will need to evolve in a way he compared to changes in airport security after Sept. 11, 2001.
Shapiro and Kirk had a longstanding relationship; Shapiro met Kirk when Kirk was 18 and had recently founded Turning Point USA, and Shapiro appeared on Kirk's podcast days before the shooting. Kirk's wife, Erika, has publicly vowed to continue his work.
Authorities have said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Robinson remains in custody and is expected to face formal proceedings on the aggravated murder charge. Prosecutors told reporters that, if convicted, Robinson would be eligible for the death penalty under state law.
The shooting has prompted renewed debate within political and campus communities about safety at public events and the security measures needed to protect speakers and audiences. Officials have not identified a motive, and investigators have continued to review the circumstances of the attack and the suspect's background as the case moves forward.