US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would award conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom, a day after the conservative activist was fatally shot during an appearance in Utah.
Trump made the comment during a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon.
Kirk, an influential ally of US President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday at an event at a Utah university.
Kirk, 31, was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, the largest conservative youth organization in the country. "Charlie Kirk has been shot at Utah Valley University," a Kirk spokesperson told NBC.
Manhunt for shooter still underway
Authorities said they still had no suspect in custody as of Wednesday night, some eight hours after the midday shooting at Utah Valley University campus in Orem, Utah, during an event attended by 3,000 people.
Police and federal agents mounted an intense manhunt on Thursday for the sniper believed to have fired the single gunshot that killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he was fielding questions about gun violence during a university appearance.
The slaying, captured in graphic detail in video clips that rapidly spread around the internet, occurred during a midday event attended by 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles (65 km) south of Salt Lake City.