Charlie Kirk was one of the most influential right-wing activists in the United States at the time of his death.
As the founder of Turning Point USA, he shaped the views of much of the conservative youth movement in the US.
But he was controversial and criticised by many for his views, accused of promoting falsehoods and conspiracy theories.
The 31-year-old had close ties to the current White House administration and was an ardent Trump supporter.
High school protests to president’s ally
Born in Chicago in 1993, Kirk was a staple of the US far right for some time before his death.
His first taste of activism came when he and a classmate launched a protest against the rising price of food at his high school cafeteria.
Soon after, as a high school senior, he wrote an opinion piece for the conservative news site Breitbart, in which he discussed liberalism in textbooks.
This launched him into politics, getting him media appearances on Fox News and at rallies and during this he met activist Bill Montgomery.
Turning Point
The two co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, when Kirk was 18.
The organisation was aimed at mobilising the youth vote for Republicans and it later attached itself to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Kirk became the face of the movement, establishing himself as a vocal and prominent supporter of Trump, including his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen.
By the time of his death, Kirk had millions of followers across social media and his own podcast.
He had also garnered and influence on the US president and leading officials as well.