Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10, according to the Associated Press.

The 31-year-old podcaster and media personality amassed an online following by hosting “Prove Me Wrong” debates on college campuses across the country. Kirk used these debates to discuss political topics such as abortion, immigration and gun rights, according to the Associated Press.

Interviews with 10 Cosumnes River College students showed mixed reactions to his death. 

Sofia Brusatori, a 19-year-old psychology major, said she is unhappy with how Kirk’s death has been weaponized. 

“It could unify both sides to rally against political violence or it could further divide each side,” Brusatori said.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012. The nonprofit organization aims “to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government,” according to the TPUSA website. 

Former CRC student Seth Henderson, 27, founded an unofficial TPUSA chapter on campus last semester. He admired how Kirk valued free speech and said his death was like a “shot heard around the world.”

“What if something like that happened at CRC?” asked Henderson, who’s also a former member of The Connection staff.

Others were critical of Kirk’s beliefs.

Izel Juarez, an 18-year-old health major, said that while it’s wrong to celebrate someone’s death, Kirk had done so himself. 

“How are we going to respect him when he’s never respected anybody?” Juarez said. 

Eliaz Valadez, an 18-year-old undeclared major, expressed his indifference and said he was unaffected by the loss. 

“My beliefs will not change because some guy died tragically at the hands of somebody else,” Valadez said. “It’s life, it’s going to happen.”

Abigail Gurzhiy, an 18-year-old education major, said the assassination reflects growing political tensions in the country. 

“This didn’t just happen,” Gurzhiy said. “If he was shot for exercising his rights for free speech, what will happen to me if I say something somebody doesn’t like?”

Video clips of Kirk’s death quickly spread across multiple social media platforms and were easily accessible for millions to watch, according to the Associated Press.

“I feel like we have been so desensitized to gun violence just because of the amount of school shootings we’ve had,” said Alondra Rodriguez, a 19-year-old political science major.

Brusatori said there should be no place for any kind of violence moving forward.

“We should take this as a learning lesson and not let this happen again,” Brusatori said.