An Indigenous activist in New South Wales who posted comments appearing to welcome the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has drawn widespread condemnation after saying "I think he brought it on himself."
Bruce Muckadda Shillingsworth, a Muruwarri and Budjiti man who runs a privately funded group he calls "Tribal Lore Enforcement," wrote on Facebook "one less racist coloniser #CharlieKirk" hours after Kirk was shot dead at a college event. In a subsequent video posted to social media, Shillingsworth said Kirk had "caused nothing but harm, loss and damage to millions of people, in particular the LGB community," adding that he struggled to feel "sadness or sorrow" for Kirk and describing the killing as the result of what he called "natural lore."
Kirk, 31, a founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot at an event at Utah Valley University last week. Authorities in Utah have arrested 22-year-old student Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting. Kirk, a vocal critic of abortion rights, Islam and transgender issues, was frequently criticized for his rhetoric by political opponents and civil rights advocates. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Shillingsworth, who has roughly 68,000 followers on Facebook, did not retract his remarks when reached by the Daily Mail, saying people were "martyring him for his views" and reiterating his view that Kirk's politics had harmed communities. His video also included references to Indigenous sovereignty and the phrase "80,000+ years," an assertion about Aboriginal occupation of the continent that is longer than common academic estimates.
The comments prompted a strong negative response on social media, where users — including some who had previously supported Shillingsworth — criticized him for celebrating a death. "Celebrating the death of someone for just voicing & debating views different than yours show who you are... RIP Charlie," one person wrote. Another message said, "Your rage is misdirected sir. I wouldn't wish on you or any human alive what happened to Charlie Kirk." Others said they had withdrawn their support for him.
Shillingsworth established Tribal Lore Enforcement with his father, Bruce Mundagutta Shillingsworth, and has at times presented himself in a uniform-like outfit and driven a marked vehicle that resembles police styling. He has posted videos advising Indigenous Australians on interactions with police, whom he has described as "foreign private corporate agents," and has been filmed confronting officers on land he identifies as Muruwarri country.
His legal history has attracted attention. In September 2023, Shillingsworth was convicted of aiding and abetting arson and destroying Commonwealth property in relation to a December 2021 fire that caused damage to Old Parliament House. Local court records show he was also found guilty in 2022 of obstructing traffic and disobeying police directions after confronting officers in Bourke, receiving a fine. He pleaded guilty to using a recording device in court and posting the recording online and was placed on a nine-month conditional release order without conviction for that offence.
Tribal Lore Enforcement, according to Shillingsworth, covers an area roughly 200 square kilometres in north-west New South Wales and serves a population he says is between 2,000 and 3,000, mostly Indigenous. He has described the group's role as grounded in "lore" rather than government law and has asserted First Nations authority over traditional lands.
The shooting at Utah Valley University has intensified debate about political rhetoric and violence in the United States, including how public figures' statements are received and contested online. Kirk's supporters have mourned him and pointed to his work organizing campus events and conservative activism, while critics have highlighted his record of incendiary commentary.
Authorities in Utah have not released a motive for the shooting, and investigations remain ongoing. Shillingsworth's remarks have focused public attention on his activities and past confrontations with authorities in Australia, prompting calls from some quarters for accountability for public statements that appear to condone or celebrate violence.
Media organizations that reported the posts reached out to Shillingsworth for comment; he reiterated elements of his earlier statements and defended his critique of Kirk's politics. The social media posts and video remain accessible on platforms where users have continued to debate his comments and the broader issues they touch on, including Indigenous sovereignty, online speech and the responsibilities of activists.
Law enforcement agencies in Australia and the United States have taken separate steps related to the case in Utah and to Shillingsworth's prior convictions in New South Wales. The Utah investigation into Kirk's death is ongoing, and any further legal action related to public statements would depend on local jurisdictional rules and potential charges. The shooting has prompted statements of grief and condemnation from political figures and campus leaders in the United States, while the responses to Shillingsworth's social media posts have underscored the global reach of politically charged events.
As authorities continue to probe the killing, the episode has highlighted how violent events can spark immediate and sometimes extreme commentary across borders, spurring both legal scrutiny and widespread public debate.