Crime
Who are Armed Queers Salt Lake City? Utah-Based Trans Militia Group Under Scrutiny After Deleting Social Media Account on Day of Charlie Kirk Killing
Authorities probing the September 10 assassination of activist Charlie Kirk are reviewing online activity and several left-leaning groups in Utah after at least one organization removed its social-media presence in the immediate aftermath of the killing, sources say.
Among the organizations under review is Armed Queers Salt Lake City (Armed Queers SLC), a Utah-based group that has described itself publicly as training and organizing LGBTQ+ people to defend their communities.
According to archived materials and reporting, the group promoted events in 2023 that featured imagery and rhetoric aligned with radical protest and self-defense themes; a flyer for a September 2023 lecture at the University of Utah included graphic elements such as a rainbow flag, a hammer-and-sickle motif and imagery of ammunition.
In a past interview, a group representative said the organizationโs activism was grounded in opposition to racism, transphobia and capitalism and accepted personal risk in service of that mission.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation told investigators that Armed Queers SLC took down at least one social media account on the day of Kirkโs death.
Law-enforcement officials are reviewing whether any individuals or networks connected to the group โ or to other online communities, including gaming platforms and social pages โ had prior knowledge of or provided material support for the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson.
Federal and state authorities are assisting local investigators in those inquiries.
Investigators have also collected and catalogued a number of social-media posts and accounts that appear to reference Kirk in the days immediately preceding the shooting.
Several of those posts have since been deleted or made private, and investigators are attempting to verify the provenance and authenticity of archived screenshots and reposts being circulated online.
Law-enforcement sources caution that while some social-media material appears ominous, much of it remains unverified and may reflect hyperbolic or copy-and-paste commentary rather than credible threats or direct knowledge of criminal intent.
The probe is also examining potential personal motives.
Officials have said they are exploring whether Robinsonโs relationship with a transgender roommate may have intersected with political or ideological grievances; the roommate โ who has cooperated with investigators โ told authorities they were โaghastโ at the killing, according to one source. State officials have confirmed that investigators continue to review electronic messages and other evidence relevant to motive.
Authorities emphasize that review of online posts and group affiliations is part of a broad investigative effort to determine whether Robinson acted alone or with assistance. At this stage, investigators have not attributed criminal coordination or direct responsibility to any organization, and officials say they will rely on forensic analysis and substantiated evidence before drawing conclusions.
Because much of the material circulating online is unverified, officials and advocacy groups have warned against leaping to conclusions based on deleted accounts, archived screenshots or unattributed posts.
Civil-liberties advocates have also urged investigators and the public to avoid conflating protected political expression or lawful self-defense training with criminal activity without clear evidence.
The investigation remains active. Authorities have not announced criminal charges linking any organizations to the slaying, and they continue to ask anyone with credible information to come forward to assist with the inquiry.
ERIE, Pa. โ Matthew S. Stone, also known as Matt Stone, has reportedly been identified as the suspected gunman in a deadly mass shooting at a residence on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The shooting reportedly claimed nine lives, including those of his daughter, Angelina Stone, and her two young children, according to information shared by family members and other reports.
Authorities responded to a residence at 722 Perry Street at approximately 5 p.m. after receiving emergency calls reporting gunfire.
The incident developed into an hours-long standoff before officers entered the home and found multiple victims.
The suspected shooter was also found dead inside the residence, reportedly from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The reported identification of Matthew S. Stone as the suspect has added another painful dimension to a tragedy that has devastated relatives, friends and the wider Erie community. However, the suspect’s identity and the reported family relationships should be treated as unconfirmed unless officially verified by law enforcement.
Angelina Stone, 24, her 5-year-old son, Isiah Hodges, and her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Amariโanna, have reportedly been identified among those killed in the shooting.
Family-shared information and a fundraising appeal described Angelina as pregnant and expecting a baby boy named Kyrie in the coming weeks. The reported deaths of Angelina and her children have left relatives and friends grieving the loss of a young mother and the children whose lives were cut short.
Information shared by family members reportedly identified Matthew S. Stone as Angelina’s father and the person responsible for killing her and her children. However, the information available for this report does not establish that police have officially confirmed the suspect’s identity, the family relationships or the allegations surrounding the deaths.
Lora Roberts, a mother of five and volunteer advocate for people experiencing homelessness, has also reportedly been identified as a victim.
Roberts was known for her community service and was reportedly a former member of the board of directors of Community of Caring, an Erie nonprofit that provides food and shelter to people in need.
According to information shared about the incident, Roberts was reportedly attempting to help a family member escape when she was shot. Her reported death has left five children without their mother and loved ones mourning a woman remembered for her compassion and willingness to help others.
April Miles Pineiro shared a heartfelt tribute remembering Jonathan and Matthew Stone as close childhood friends who helped make her early years unforgettable.
Pineiro recalled meeting the brothers when they were children and quickly becoming part of a close group of neighborhood friends. They spent hours playing outdoors, including hide-and-seek games in which the boys sometimes wore a clown mask to scare their friends.
She remembered how the children continued spending time together through cold and snowy weather and how they walked to the school bus stop together when they learned they would attend the same school.
Pineiro also recalled Jonathan’s childhood crush on her and a memorable visit to a park when playful horseplay on a slide ended with both brothers falling. She described these memories with affection, emphasizing the lasting bond they shared.
In her tribute, Pineiro expressed heartbreak over the reported deaths and promised to cherish their memories.
โI’ll love you ALWAYS AND FOREVER Matthew and Jonathan,โ she wrote.
Her words reflected the depth of the friendships and the profound grief being felt by those who knew the brothers.
According to reports, witnesses told investigators that a man fired a handgun outside the residence before entering the home. Two women were initially found dead in the street.
Erie police officers and the department’s SWAT team surrounded the property and attempted to persuade the man inside to surrender. Additional gunshots were reportedly heard while officers remained outside.
Police eventually entered the residence and discovered additional victims in different areas of the home, including children. The suspected shooter was found dead inside, reportedly with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public after the situation was contained.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the incident as devastating and deeply disturbing for the officers and investigators involved.
โThe loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing,โ Lorah said.
Mayor Daria Devlin also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and everyone affected by the tragedy, calling it a terrible loss for the community.
The Erie County Coroner’s Office and police investigators remained at the scene late Friday to document evidence and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Counseling was reportedly being made available to responding officers following the traumatic incident.
The reported deaths of Angelina Stone, her children, Lora Roberts and other victims have left families and friends facing an unimaginable loss.
Community members continue to share tributes, remembering the victims through stories of childhood friendships, family bonds and efforts to help others.
Authorities are working to establish the full sequence of events and confirm the identities and relationships of those involved. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional official information may clarify the reported identity of the suspected shooter and the circumstances leading to the deadly incident.