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.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. โ Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.