(The Hill) — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) called on tech billionaire Elon Musk to remove graphic videos of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination from social platform X.
“I am calling on @elonmusk, @finkd and @tiktok_us to remove the horrifying videos of Charlie Kirk’s murder. He has a family, young children, and no one should be forced to relive this tragedy online,” Luna said Wednesday night on X.
“These are not the only graphic videos of horrifying murders circulating — at some point, social media begins to desensitize humanity,” the lawmaker added. “We must still value life. Please take them down.”
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The videos from Utah Valley University, where Kirk was hosting an event Wednesday afternoon, have circulated on X and other platforms from the moment the conservative activist was shot. They also show the crowd running away in panic.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was struck in the neck before collapsing to the floor. He was later pronounced dead.
The manhunt for Kirk’s shooter is underway. On Wednesday, authorities detained two people believed to be connected to the shooting in Orem, Utah, but they were later released.
“We initially took in George Zinn as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police. A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement,” Utah’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) said late Wednesday.
The suspect shot from the roof of a building to the gazebo where Kirk was addressing attendees, state authorities believe.
At least one more GOP lawmaker was supportive of Luna’s call to take down the videos.
“Thank you!!! I agree completely! I NEVER want to see that again!! I hate that I saw it at all,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said on X.
