TPUSA’s Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized, Smeared With Red Paint

On Sep 14, 2026

A newly installed eight-foot bronze statue of Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, was vandalized with red paint overnight on Saturday, the organization confirmed.

Phoenix police received calls reporting the damage around 8:09 a.m. Sunday and responded to the site near 48th Street and Beverly Road in the Ahwatukee Foothills. Officers taped off the area and confirmed that an investigation is underway, but did not disclose any information on potential suspects, according to a report from AZ Central.

The statue was sculpted by artist Quintin McCann and unveiled on September 10, 2026, during a morning gathering that included prayer. It was installed to mark one year since Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at age 31 on September 10, 2025, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Utah.

The sculpture depicts Kirk in the motion of tossing baseball caps, a gesture associated with his campus events. It includes details such as his “FREEDOM” T-shirt, a cross necklace, wedding ring, and a hat bearing the Turning Point USA logo.

The placement at headquarters is temporary, pending a permanent location. Flowers, flags, and other tributes had accumulated around the statue and a nearby memorial poster since the unveiling.

Red spray paint was applied to the statue’s face, neck, left hand holding a cap, and torso, where a frowning or upside-down smiley face was drawn. A nearby poster featuring a photograph of Kirk was also targeted.

The poster included text such as “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior.” A red X was painted over Kirk’s face on the poster, the word “Jesus” and an accompanying cross were crossed out, and some accounts noted additional writing on the display.

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We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable.

But vandalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical. The incident happened in the… pic.twitter.com/LSUJn9vYv4

— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) September 13, 2026

“We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable,” Turning Point USA said in a statement. “But vandalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical. The incident happened in the middle of the night because evil never sleeps. Beyond spray painting on the neck and face, they made the intentional decision to cross out the name of Jesus on a nearby sign.”

Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, stated that the organization was prepared to clean the statue once police released the scene and was reviewing surveillance footage.