Utah Gov. Spencer Cox steps into a national healing role after Charlie Kirk assassination

At a news conference in the days after the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, Gov.

At a news conference in the days after the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox took to the podium to deliver updates about the case — and to urge Americans to find a way, together, out of this dark moment.

"There is one person responsible for what happened here, and that person is now in custody and will be charged soon and will be held accountable," Cox said. "And yet, all of us have an opportunity right now to do something different."

"We can always point the finger at the other side," Cox added later, "and at some point we have to find an off-ramp, or it's going to get much, much worse."

Kirk's assassination has sparked national mourning but also vitriol, with some Republican leaders including President Donald Trump blaming the "radical left" for the shooting.

But Cox has stepped forward as healer-in-chief.