A 19-year-old man was arrested Sunday for vandalizing a memorial for Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
Fox News identified the suspect as Ryder Corral, who was caught on video kicking flowers at the site.
Memorial Attacked
Witnesses said Corral approached the memorial and began knocking over tributes.
Ryder Corral
An onlooker tackled him before law enforcement arrived.
He was taken into custody shortly afterward.
Videos of the incident spread quickly on social media.
“Man arrested after vandalizing Charlie Kirk memorial,” Fox News posted on X.
JUST IN: Man arrested after vandalizing Charlie Kirk memorial outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in Arizona. The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Ryder Corral. pic.twitter.com/N1LAMCniS1
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 14, 2025
Other users condemned the act as hateful and disrespectful.
The Phoenix memorial had been filled with flowers, photos, and messages.
Supporters have gathered there since Kirk’s assassination last week.
The tributes reflect the grief felt across the conservative movement.
Vigils have been held throughout the country since Kirk’s death.
Professional baseball and football teams have observed moments of silence.
Turning Point USA has encouraged supporters to continue honoring his legacy.
Political Division
Not everyone has responded with civility.
In California, a local Democratic Party branch refused to join a Kirk vigil.
A party leader called Kirk a “fascist” when rejecting the invitation.
That same slur was etched into a bullet casing by Kirk’s assassin.
Tyler Robinson, 22, fired the fatal shot at Utah Valley University.
The etchings reflected his radical political ideology.
Some media outlets have implied Kirk provoked his own assassination.
Commentators suggested his conservative views made him a target.
Supporters argue this rhetoric excuses political violence.
Other voices on the left have urged restraint and civility.
They say political disagreements should never justify violence.
But incidents like the vandalism in Phoenix highlight deepening divisions.
Kirk Movement Continues
Despite the hostility, Kirk’s supporters say his mission will continue.
His widow Erika vowed Turning Point USA will expand its reach.
Tributes at the Phoenix memorial remain a symbol of that resolve.
