'Pretty sad stuff' | Charlie Kirk statue at TPUSA headquarters vandalized days after unveiling

For Tucson residents who travel to the Valley for political events, work, or visits to Turning Point USA, the vandalism at the organization’s headquarters is a reminder that a memorial drawing visitors from across the country has become a flashpoint only days after it opened. An eight foot bronze statue honoring late conservative activist Charlie Kirk was covered in red spray paint Sunday, prompting a Phoenix police investigation and a promise from TPUSA to restore the memorial.

Police were called shortly after 8 a.m. Sept. 13, according to one account, while another placed the call just before 9 a.m. The property is near 48th Street and Beverly Road, at or near 4900 E. Beverly Road. The location was described as being in Tempe in one report, while Phoenix police handled the investigation. Officers examined the site before clearing it, and TPUSA staff then cleaned the statue. By Sunday evening, the visible paint had been removed, although the organization said nearby signs would also need to be replaced.

The statue had been unveiled Sept. 10 at TPUSA’s headquarters, marking one year since Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point event at Utah Valley University. The shooting struck him in the neck, and he later died at a nearby hospital. Tyler Robinson was arrested in connection with the killing and has pleaded not guilty, according to the report. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

The vandalism targeted nearly every prominent part of the statue. Red paint was reported on Kirk’s face, neck, torso, left hand, and hats. A frowning face was drawn on the statue, and an X was placed over its face. A nearby sign was also marked with apparently unreadable writing. Another description said the word “Jesus” appeared to have been crossed out. TPUSA said the damage occurred overnight and that surveillance video captured the people responsible. Police have not announced an arrest.

Tyler Bowyer, TPUSA’s chief operating officer, said employees found the damage when they arrived and immediately contacted police. He described the display of hostility as jarring and said the property’s cameras could help investigators. After officers finished their work, staff used what Bowyer characterized as some elbow grease to clean the statue, in part because visitors had continued arriving to honor Kirk.

Those visitors included John and Dawn Baxter of South Carolina, who returned to the site while they were in the area. The couple had been in town for business and vacation the previous year and had taken part in memorial events after Kirk’s death. John Baxter said he wanted to reconnect with the memorial and was struck by the range of people who had been drawn to Kirk, not only young people but members of multiple generations.

Other supporters expressed anger and sadness over the defacement. Jason Agan questioned why someone would damage a memorial intended for people who supported Kirk. Kyle Elliott described Kirk as nonviolent and said he believed Kirk had died for his convictions and his effort to challenge society. Greg Kiefer said the memorial had been moving, adding that his daughters especially appreciated some of the principles associated with Kirk.

The statue’s creator, Utah sculptor Quintin McCann, told FOX 10 that he began working on Kirk’s likeness almost immediately after the shooting. McCann said Kirk’s death affected him despite never having met him, and that he stayed at work the evening of the shooting to begin sculpting the portrait. The finished bronze statue was placed outside TPUSA’s headquarters for the anniversary period.

TPUSA originally planned to leave the statue outside the gate only through Sept. 16. The organization said the vandalism could lead it to keep the memorial on display longer, while also planning to restore the statue and replace damaged signs. Bowyer said he hoped the incident would instead reinforce Kirk’s emphasis on respectful disagreement and encourage less anger and animosity. Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s wife, said the attack would not erase his legacy and argued that efforts to damage what he built would motivate supporters to work harder. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also said the vandalism would not be tolerated. Anyone with information is asked to contact Phoenix police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.