Mackenzie Stafford
WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) – In the wake of the Evergreen High School shooting on Wednesday and the political assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) tells KRDO13 there will be an increased presence of deputies in the county.
Kirk was slated to speak at the Truth & Liberty Conference in Woodland Park on Thursday night. He was scheduled to speak just after seven at Charis Bible College. Instead, there will be a special tribute with a panel discussion at the college.
As of 3 p.m. MT, the suspected assassin has yet to be apprehended.
TCSO says they are in contact with their partners at the Colorado Springs FBI office to track any potential threats. Deputies are also working with Charis Bible College security, where the conference is being held.
The Woodland Park Police Chief tells KRDO13 they have extra personnel all over the city. He says the event at Charis is a large-scale response by multiple law enforcement agencies. Chief Deisler says he cannot get into specifics, but he says the event is getting the attention it needs.
A vigil was held to honor the life of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday night at Memorial Park. On Thursday, a single candle was left behind. The flag was flown at half-staff on Thursday for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. However, President Trump also ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff through Sunday to honor Kirk. It’s something Woodland Park resident Jake Ethington appreciated.
“It’s been a bit of a heavy day, but also, I guess, just also been good to see the people who cared about him. And with the flag at half staff, little things, people just showing, you know, that, we all respected what you’re doing,” shared Jake Ethington.
He spoke to KRDO13 about his experience seeing Kirk at Charis Bible College in years past.
“It was impressive. And I guess more than anything, it was just that I could tell I felt like he really believed what he was saying was trying to help people and help America. He was just very driven and, you know, I remember he was talking about just the importance of reading books and educating yourself and people of all different types on so many different subjects. He was just a very driven and, you know, educated man, and just wanted to learn. And so even to this day, I think I probably read a few extra books just because of how he talked about that. So that was it was impactful,” explained Ethington.
He says he still might try to secure a ticket for tonight’s event to honor Kirk.
KRDO13 spoke with one woman who created the Turning Point U.S.A. chapter at Charis Bible College, where the Truth and Liberty conference is being held. Turning Point U.S.A. is the organization Charlie Kirk founded, sparking a major youth conservative movement.
“I came across Charlie and Turning Point USA a couple of years ago. My mom and I went to America first, and I remember that was the first time that it really sparked a fire within me. What Charlie was doing, what his heart was for this country. Because I’ve always had a heart for politics, a heart for this country. And so that was the first time it really ignited something within me. And that’s when it really started. I got connected with a representative here in Colorado, a field rep, and she got me connected and said, Yeah, you can have a chapter at your Bible college. And I was like, that’s amazing. And so that’s kind of when I started,” explained Mandy McNulty.
She touched on how he inspired so many and the lasting impact he will leave behind.
“Charlie left a huge legacy not only for me, but for this country. The fearlessness as a leader, how selfless he was to put himself on the line, to speak the truth and not be afraid. He cared so much for people. And I think that’s something that really stood out to me, that he was so willing to put himself out there on college campuses where he knew that his life was on the line all of the time, and to speak the truth, but to unite people and just seeing what the movement that he started in my generation is truly incredible,” McNulty continued, “He was an inspiration to me. He still will be. And I believe his legacy has only begun from what’s happened.”
McNulty said she had the opportunity to meet and interact with Kirk in 2023. McNulty says she and others will carry on his legacy.
“He just started something in this country, and it will never be forgotten,” shared McNulty. “I really believe that this is a turning point, and I’ve heard a lot of people say that this is going to be a turning point in this country. Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean that that has ended.”
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