ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — One year after Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking on a college campus in Utah, supporters in his hometown area are gathering Thursday to remember the conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder.
The Republicans of Wheeling Township are hosting a Charlie Kirk Remembrance open house from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, at the group's headquarters, 909 E. Rand Road in Arlington Heights.
Organizers said the office will be open for the community to gather and reflect on Kirk's life and legacy. The event will also include a simulcast of Turning Point USA's "Freedom Built to Last" memorial at Utah Valley University, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Central.
Thursday marks exactly one year since Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking before a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Kirk was born in Arlington Heights and graduated from Wheeling High School in 2012. He co-founded Turning Point USA in suburban Chicago in 2012 at age 18, eventually building it into one of the country's most prominent conservative youth organizations.
Kirk was answering questions during the opening stop of his "American Comeback Tour" when a shot struck him in the neck shortly after noon. He was later pronounced dead.
In the hours after the shooting, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said Kirk's death "hits especially close to home" because of his connections to the community.
"Despite our political differences, there is no place for this type of hatred or violence," Tinaglia said at the time.
Township High School District 214 also issued a statement noting Kirk's connection to Wheeling High School and condemning the violence.
RELATED: Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot Dead In Utah
Another local remembrance is scheduled for Saturday.
Turning Point USA and several area Club America chapters will hold a Charlie Kirk Vigil and Remembrance from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakewood Chapel, 1307 E. Palatine Road in Arlington Heights.
A flyer for the event describes it as a "service of faith, remembrance, and hope" to celebrate Kirk's legacy.
Groups listed as participating include Club America chapters associated with Wheeling High School, Northshore, Lake Forest High School, the Trevians, Stevenson High School and Barrington, along with Turning Point USA.
The one-year anniversary is also being marked nationally, including by President Donald Trump and other Republican political figures. Trump participated in a commemoration Thursday with Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, and members of his administration.
The criminal case against the man accused of killing Kirk also reached a significant milestone just days before the anniversary.
As reported by The Associated Press, a Utah judge ruled Sept. 1 that Tyler Robinson, 23, will stand trial on an aggravated murder charge, finding prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed. Robinson has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. If convicted of aggravated murder, Robinson could also face life in prison without parole or 25 years to life with the possibility of parole.
During a five-day preliminary hearing in July, prosecutors presented evidence they said connected Robinson to the shooting, including DNA evidence, surveillance footage, a rifle and a handwritten note allegedly left for his partner.
Prosecutors also pointed to messages engraved on ammunition and argued Kirk was targeted because of his political views, according to the news outlet.
Defense attorneys challenged portions of the state's case and argued against allowing prosecutors to pursue capital punishment. Among their arguments was that Robinson allegedly targeted Kirk specifically rather than intending to endanger the thousands of others attending the event.
Judge Tony Graf rejected that argument at the preliminary stage, agreeing there was enough evidence to allow the aggravated murder case and potential death penalty to move forward. Prosecutors have argued that firing toward a crowd of more than 3,000 people created a grave risk to others.
A trial date has not yet been set. Kirk's family has pushed for the case to move forward without unnecessary delay, with another court hearing expected in October.
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has since taken over leadership of Turning Point USA, which has continued its work on high school and college campuses across the country.
Thursday night's national memorial will be held at Utah Valley University, the same campus where Kirk was killed one year ago.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Buffalo Grove Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.