Charlie Kirk shooting witnesses return to UVU campus to pay respects

OREM, Utah (ABC4) —Utah Valley University remains a crime scene Friday and police tape is still cordoning off portions of the campus, following the fatal shooting of conservative activist and father of two, Charlie Kirk, Wednesday.

Throughout the day, dozens paid their respects at a vigil on campus, leaving behind photos of Kirk, messages of hope, and flowers in his honor.

Students and others who attended the Turning Point USA event Wednesday and witnessed the shooting returned to campus to say prayers, including 22-year-old BYU student Danielle Conners.

According to Conners, she was about 20 feet from Kirk when the shooting occurred, telling ABC4 she witnessed the gruesome aftermath, before she was dragged to the floor when the bullet struck Kirk.

Since then, Conners went to a support group coordinated by the university on Friday, as processing what happened has been a challenge for her.

“I was trying to do my laundry and clean the clothes that I had worn that day and even like picking up the pants that I had the stains from being thrown on the ground, I can’t even clean my clothes, I can’t even clean my clothes, I can’t go to work, I can’t go to school…I feel like I can’t do anything,” Conners said behind tears. “I don’t want to be in this victim mentality…I want to be able to keep his memory, live on in his legacy.”

UVU student Ian Strauss, who attended Kirk’s event, also returned to campus Friday. He says he was about 40 yards from Kirk, when the shooting occurred.

“It felt a little weird driving over, kind of thinking about it … just kind of replaying it, kind of reliving it again,” Strauss said. “That was the first experience for me seeing someone get shot and killed … that was a traumatic thing to see.”

Kirk fans who weren’t able to make it to his event Wednesday, offered their prayers at the vigil.

“It just didn’t feel real,” Sienna Creekmore said. “I couldn’t help but think about his family and what they’re going through.”

Another individual, Sunny Cooper, tells ABC4 she’s followed Kirk’s career since she can remember. “I’ve also looked up to him … nothing like this has happened … in Utah.”

As the community searches for closure, Conners hopes to embrace the same faith in God Kirk has shared throughout his life. She said, “Some of the last words he said, he was praising and loving us fellow Christians.”