A newly installed statue honoring Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters was vandalized early Sunday, just three days after the memorial’s unveiling. Vandals also damaged a nearby Christian tribute, covering both displays in bright red paint.

Photos from the site show red paint splashed across the face and neck of the eight-foot statue. A crude frowning face was also drawn over its chest.

The vandals also targeted a sign beneath the statue featuring Kirk’s image and the message, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.” The name “Jesus” and a cross image appeared to have been crossed out, while “Satan” was seemingly written across the sign.

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow and the current CEO of Turning Point USA, answered the attack with a promise to restore the memorial. She said those responsible would not erase her husband’s legacy or intimidate Christians.

“Charlie once said we should be building two statues for every statue that they tear down,” Erika Kirk wrote, saying her husband always chose to build rather than destroy.

She said the bullet that killed her husband had only made his voice louder and predicted the vandalism would bring even greater attention to his legacy. Erika Kirk pledged to repair the statue, restore the name of Jesus Christ to the damaged sign and press on with the movement her husband created.

“God will not be mocked,” Erika Kirk wrote.

Phoenix police told News Media that officers began receiving reports at about 8:09 a.m. regarding vandalism at a memorial near 4900 East Beverly Road.

“Officers have responded to the location, and the incident is under investigation,” police said.

No arrests or suspect descriptions had been announced as of Sunday afternoon.

“This morning we woke up to radical criminals vandalizing our headquarters,” Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer wrote on social media. “Crossing over Charlie’s face, scratching out Jesus and the Cross and spraying red paint on his neck.

“This isn’t the country we want to live in,” Bowyer added. “Arizona is not Gotham.”

Bowyer, who went to the headquarters as police investigated, said TPUSA was prepared to clean the memorial as soon as authorities released the scene.

“God bless the police as they investigate the violent thugs who did this,” Bowyer wrote.

TPUSA also released video showing the damage and encouraged its supporters to vote ahead of the midterm elections.

“Hate cannot win,” the organization wrote. “The radical Left is showing up to vote. What are you doing to save the country from this?”

In a follow-up statement, TPUSA said it would restore the statue and replace the damaged signs while reviewing footage of the incident and working with law enforcement to identify those responsible.

“Vandalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical,” the organization wrote. “The incident happened in the middle of the night because evil never sleeps.”

TPUSA said the vandals went beyond spraying Kirk’s face and neck with red paint, accusing them of making an “intentional decision” to cross out Jesus’ name on the nearby sign.

The organization ended its response by quoting John 15:18: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

The vandalism struck only days after TPUSA unveiled the bronze statue Thursday to mark one year since Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

The statue depicts Kirk wearing his signature “Freedom” T-shirt and cross necklace. Those who knew him said the sculpture captured details down to his wedding ring, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.

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Turning Point USA commissioned Utah artist Quintin McCann to create the memorial after he began working on a portrait of Kirk the evening the conservative activist was killed, according to the outlet.

“Someone’s death, who I’ve never met, has never impacted me so much,” McCann told FOX 10. “And I’m sure many people can agree. And I just stayed at work that evening and just started sculpting his portrait.”

The statue was initially placed outside TPUSA’s headquarters near 48th Street and Beverly Road but was expected to be moved indoors for security reasons by the end of the week, the outlet reported.

Conservative voices erupted over the attack, condemning the vandalism as another assault on Kirk’s family, friends and legacy.

“Truly abhorrent,” Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., wrote on X. “The Charlie Kirk statue that was just unveiled at Turning Point’s HQ was vandalized overnight with red paint.

“The young people who work at Turning Point don’t deserve this, Charlie’s family doesn’t deserve this, his friends don’t deserve this,” Hamadeh added. “The left is intolerant and militant. Evil exists and must be confronted continuously.”

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., was equally blunt.

“This is absolute evil,” Biggs wrote.

Conservative commentator Benny Johnson accused the vandals of trying to intimidate Kirk’s supporters.

“These people are incapable of building anything, all they know is destruction,” Johnson wrote. “Keep these demons out of power.”

TPUSA contributor Alex Clark said seeing the damage brought her to tears before issuing a dire warning to conservative voters.

“The left wants to tap dance in your blood and throw confetti at your gravestone,” Clark wrote. “Vote red in midterms like your life depends on it because it actually does as a conservative.”

Turning Point USA Chief of Staff Mikey McCoy urged conservatives to answer the vandalism with faith, invoking Kirk’s willingness to return to hostile campuses and the biblical examples of Stephen and Christ praying for those who persecuted them.

“Then I can surrender all the anger, and pure disgust that I feel at seeing this to a just and holy God,” McCoy wrote, saying he would pray instead for the repentance and salvation of those responsible.

“Lord, help our Country,” he added. “Open their eyes. Break their hearts. Save them.”

Bowyer also blasted Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, accusing her of failing to pursue bipartisanship after Kirk’s killing and pointing to her veto of legislation that would have named Loop 202 in Kirk’s honor.

Hobbs said in her March veto letter that she condemned political violence but argued highway-naming decisions should remain nonpartisan and be handled by the state board responsible for such designations.

Kirk was 31 when he was shot and killed during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University. 

Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in Kirk’s death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Erika Kirk took over as CEO of Turning Point USA after her husband’s assassination. The conservative organization he co-founded in 2012 has continued expanding its network of high school and college chapters since his death.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Phoenix police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

News Media has reached out to Turning Point USA and Hobbs’ office for additional information and comment.

A huge marine creature has been seen swimming in the Pacific Ocean roughly 300 miles off the California coast.

The rare whale shark, estimated to measure between 14 and 16 feet, was spotted moving through clear waters between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu on Wednesday. 

Commercial fisheries pilot Carl Sbarounis was flying above the ocean when his friend, Ryder DeVoe, called to alert him to the remarkable sighting.

‘[Ryder] found this 14 to 16ft Whale Shark between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu [on] September 9, 2026. I happened to be nearby and came over to video and take some pics of it,’ Sbarounis wrote on Instagram.

‘Rare species are cruising through our SoCal waters. Hope to catch some more exciting species during this El Nino,’ he added. 

Footage filmed by Sbarounis and posted online captured the enormous fish gliding quietly through the calm Pacific waters.

Sbarounis said the previous whale shark he had encountered was three years ago. He told the Los Angeles Times that the unusual animals tend to pass through Southern California when ocean temperatures rise.

‘Mostly during El Niño,’ he told the outlet. ‘When the weather is nice, I see unusual stuff.’

Whale sharks are the largest shark species in the world. Despite their imposing size, they are harmless to people.

They feed on tiny ocean creatures like plankton, krill and sardines.

Whale sharks also thrive in tropical waters in the 70s and 80s and are commonly found off Australia, Baja California and in the Persian Gulf.

Sbarounis also spotted groups of uniquely colored manta rays that day, including tan-brown rays and gray rays with a black stripe known as spinetail devil rays. 

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California’s ocean has been unusually warm, bringing more tropical creatures into the area, such as 200 lb bluefin tuna that have also been turning up regularly off Northern California.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently gave a 75 percent chance of a historically strong El Niño this winter, which could drive temperatures even higher.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation is a naturally occurring climate cycle that shifts between hot El Niño years and cool La Niña years once every two to seven years.

As we enter an El Niño phase, the powerful trade winds that normally blow hot water across the Pacific towards Australia weaken, or even reverse.

That prevents cool waters welling up from the deep ocean below and causes hot water to collect near the surface off the west coast of South America.

Eventually, that warm water starts to spread out, raising the average global temperature and causing major disruptions to weather patterns around the globe.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said sea surface temperatures in the region at the heart of El Niño are already well above average and are continuing to rise.

The developing El Niño has gathered pace dramatically in recent months, with Pacific Ocean temperatures now more than 35F above average in some regions.

Scientists say the warmth lurking beneath the surface is even more remarkable, with some underwater areas reaching a staggering 46F above normal.

For September to November this year, the WMO’s forecasts indicate there will be above-normal temperatures across almost all land areas around the world.

An Ohio teenager missing for 263 days was found alive at the home of a disgraced former teacher, according to reports, as relatives allege the 48-year-old man groomed the vulnerable girl.

The 17-year-old disappeared from the Huckleberry House crisis shelter in Columbus on Dec. 2, 2025. Her family repeatedly urged police to investigate the home of Jobe Binkley, a former Springfield City School District science teacher.

Chelsi Warner, the mother of the teen’s half-sister, told The Post that Binkley began grooming the girl after meeting her at school about two years earlier. The teen had also previously run away to Binkley’s house last year, Warner said.

“She’s had a troubled history with her mother and this groomer took advantage of a girl looking for a parental figure,” said Warner, who has cared for the teen in the past.

“It’s absolutely disgusting… and she’s so groomed and brainwashed by that man that she doesn’t see what he’s done to her,” Warner added.

Binkley was arrested on one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor, before being released on bond.

He pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said a more serious charge was not possible without the teenager’s cooperation.

Binkley, who had previously faced allegations of inappropriate conduct involving students, denied police access to his residence twice during the search for the missing teen.

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A U.S. Marshals special task force ultimately entered the home on Aug. 21 and found the girl alive inside, ABC 6 reported.

Warner said the outcome was especially frustrating because relatives had spent nine months telling authorities the teen was likely at Binkley’s home. She said the family had even supplied the Springfield Police Department with photographs showing the girl inside the residence.

“I’m very upset with this situation,” she said. “We had photos of her in the house holding guns, and we know about the allegations from other students against this man, but we were always told there’s not enough evidence yet.”

The Springfield Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.

The teen had previously gone missing last November, and she was reportedly found a few days later staying with Binkley, according to posts from family and friends.

Binkley was first put on administrative leave in November 2024 and then again in January 2025, with the school canning him the following month for violating the district’s policy regarding the use of technology.

Warner accused the school of trying to dodge responsibility and sweep the issues with Binkley away despite students having video evidence of his inappropriate behavior.

Springfield City Schools, who had said previous allegations against Binkley were unsubstantiated, told ABC 6 it was never made aware of any allegations between the former science teacher and the runaway victim.

A statue of Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA’s Arizona headquarters was vandalized over the weekend.

The monument, unveiled Thursday on the first anniversary of Kirk’s death, was discovered covered in red spray paint Sunday morning in Phoenix.

Phoenix Police Department officers responded at about 9am after receiving a report that the memorial had been defaced.

Red paint appeared to be concentrated around the bronze statue’s neck, seemingly referencing the location where Kirk was shot. A frowning face had also been painted onto its torso.

A second memorial outside the building was also targeted. It depicts the late conservative alongside the message: ‘May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior.’

Images show a large red X painted across his face, while the word ‘Jesus’ was covered in red paint. Flowers and American flags remained placed near the memorial.

It was not immediately clear whether investigators had identified any suspects.

The apparent anti-Christian nature of the damage sparked anger among Kirk supporters. One social media user wrote: ‘These animals will burn in hell for all eternity.’

‘So, killing Charlie wasn’t enough. So noted,’ wrote another. 

Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. 

Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, co-founded and ran the conservative youth organization. 

The 31-year-old father and husband was shot in the neck by a single rifle shot while he hosted a debate event in front of roughly 3,000 people that day. 

He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

A manhunt was quickly launched for his alleged shooter, who was later identified as Tyler Robinson, 22. 

The Utah native surrendered to the local sheriff’s office after his parents allegedly convinced him to turn himself in following his confession to them. 

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Robinson has been charged with ten criminal counts, including aggravated murder. That charge makes his eligiable for the death penalty.

On September 1, a judge ruled that Robinson’s trial will move forward after prosecutors argued there was enough evidence against him. Meanwhile, his defense claimed the evidence was insufficient. 

His defense attorney then entered pleas of not guilty on all counts on his behalf. 

Robinson’s next court date is scheduled for October 23. 

Before the latest ruling, Utah County prosecutor Ryan McBride told the court: ‘It’s not difficult to understand the motive here. 

‘The defendant’s views were repugnant to the positions that Charlie Kirk famously took.’ 

The state has pointed to Robinson and Kirk’s opposing views on same-sex marriage and gender transitioning after it was revealed that the alleged shooter was in a romantic relationship with his former roommate, Lance Twiggs. 

Twiggs told investigators that he had been considering transitioning around the time Kirk was shot and killed, according to prosecutors. 

A note that Robinson wrote to Twiggs, who also went by Luna, was also presented by prosecutors. 

It read: ‘I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it. I wish we could have lived in a world where this was not necessary.’

The vandalism comes just days after chaos erupted in New York City after another Charlie Kirk statue was displayed. 

The life-sized statue was erected in Times Square on the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s death after sculptor Sergio Furnaru created the piece. 

Madness quickly ensued after its installation as both Kirk supporters and critics clashed on the streets.  

The Daily Mail contacted the Phoenix Police Department and Turning Point USA for comment. 

A Los Angeles pedestrian-safety activist has carried out another unauthorized street project, painting a crosswalk at a heavily traveled Hollywood intersection.

Jonathan Hale, joined by members of his group People’s Vision Zero, painted the markings at Sycamore and Lexington avenues on Saturday morning, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Hale has drawn attention across Los Angeles for creating unofficial crosswalks in areas where he says pedestrians urgently need safer places to cross.

He told NBC Los Angeles that the group relies on statewide crash data collected by UC Berkeley researchers when deciding where to focus its crosswalk campaign.

“We focus primarily on residential corners, where there is a four-way stop in the neighborhood,” Hale told the outlet. “There’s curb cuts. It’s a clear place for people to cross. The idea is that we’re not adding anything. We’re not changing the law because a crosswalk already exists.”

The DIY traffic-safety effort has previously brought Hale into contact with law enforcement. In December, he was arrested on suspicion of vandalism after painting a separate crosswalk at Kelton and Wilkins avenues in Sawtelle.

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This time, Hale said, LAPD officers did not arrive as the group painted the Hollywood intersection on Saturday.

After NBC asked about the citizen-led crosswalk effort, Mayor Karen Bass’ office defended the city’s ongoing pedestrian-safety strategy.

“Mayor Bass believes that streets and sidewalks should be safe and accessible for all Angelenos, no matter how they travel. The City will continue to install crosswalks that comply with federal, state, and local regulations,” her office said.

The mayor’s office also highlighted Bass’ recent announcement of nearly $8 million for pedestrian and street-safety upgrades along the Alameda and Spring Street corridors.

The project will bring protected bike lanes, new pedestrian crossings, curb ramp improvements and street resurfacing to parts of Downtown Los Angeles and Chinatown.

“Mayor Bass is tackling LA’s aging infrastructure by creating the long-term planning that the city had lacked for decades,” her office said.