Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Officials in Utah continue to search for the gunman in the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Authorities have recovered a rifle believed to have been used in the shooting, while the FBI has released photos of a person of interest.
Kirk's assassination is the latest of unfortunate instances in the rise of political violence across the United States. Locally in Western New York, it has politicians like Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro (R) still shaken up.
"My son came up to me and goes, 'Dad, do you know Charlie Kirk? I just saw him get murdered.' When he brought that to my attention, I was in fear of him, and confused of everything occurring at the same time for my son to actually see a video like that," said Todaro in an interview with WBEN.
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Todaro felt Kirk was a motivational guy that gave everybody the honest chance to speak their mind.
"He believed in who he was and what he stood for, and he was fair with everybody, regardless of race, creed, color. It didn't matter," Todaro said. "The cold-blooded, public display of a murder is uncalled for, and it's unnecessary. In today's days, we should all be rejoicing with each other, that we all have our lives. It's an unfortunate thing."
Erie County Legislature Chair Tim Meyers (D) was also shocked to hear of what transpired in Utah on Wednesday.
"It's very sad to hear what happened, but it just seems this is the trend going on in our country," said Meyer with WBEN. "The temperature has risen and things are getting out of hand. Whether your views don't agree with mine, it just seems that it's escalating to a point that's very sad."
Meyers' concern in light of the Kirk assassination is, where does the political violence in this nation end?
"How many more people have got to get killed? Is it gun laws? What is the root of the problems in families? That's my concern. What's the end game? How many more people, innocent lives have to be taken?" Meyers questioned.
Todaro is concerned about the rising dangers that are presented with the escalating political violence.
"Every elected official, anyone that's speaking their mind today should have the freedom to do so safely," Todaro said. "Now it's like everyone's going to be begin having a target, and many elected officials should be very careful of what words they're using, because it seems to be initiating a new way of thinking that it's OK to hurt somebody. It needs to stop immediately, and we have to come together."
As Meyers questions what drives some people to commit such heinous acts of violence, Todaro believes it's up to the people to find empathy in one other.
"We all have the same color blood. We're all brothers and sisters. We have to get along," he said. "We all have the right to view things in a different way, as long as it's not harming anyone or will harm anybody. That's my thought."