Violence has gripped theUS political scene once again after prominent conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was shot dead.
The 31-year-old, who was a key ally of PresidentDonald Trump was killed while speaking at a university in Utah.
Trump paid tribute to Kirk, calling him a"martyr for truth and freedom" and blaming "the radical left" for the shooting.
But it was just the latest in a growing number of shootings and violent incidents against US politicians on both sides of the political divide.
As the country comes to terms with Kirk's death, it also faces the reality that gun violence is becoming an increasingly regular part of its politics.
July 13, 2024: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania
The most recent wave of political violence began during last year's election campaign, when the then-Republican candidate for the presidency was shot by a sniper at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In a massive security failure, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, managed to fire eight rounds from a rifle from a nearby building as Trump spoke.
One member in the crowd was killed, as was Crooks moments later by a Secret Service agent, but it was the first attempt on the life of a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Crooks was once a registered Republican but had donated sums of money to progressive movements and causes before the shooting.
Trump was injured in the shooting with a bullet grazing his ear, though he claimed he could have died had his head been in another position.
He rose quickly to his feet after being covered by security and Secret Service, and a photo of the wounded Trump raising his fist to the crowd has become one of the most iconic photos ever.
September 15, 2024: Second attempt on Trump's life
Just two months later, Trump was the target of another assassination attempt, this time at his own golf club in Florida.
Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man, had hidden in bushes on Trump International Golf Course and was armed with a rifle.
He was spotted aiming the gun at a member of Trump's security detail, and it is believed he was planning to shoot the Republican candidate.
A Secret Service agent shot at Routh, who tried to flee but was eventually arrested after a chase.
April 13, 2025: Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor's home
Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, was the target of an alleged assassination attempt when part of his residence was set on fire.
Cody Allan Balmer broke into the residence in Harrisburg and reportedly used two Molotov cocktails to trigger the blaze.
The 38-year-old was also allegedly armed with a sledgehammer to confront Shapiro with if he encountered the governor, but he wasn't able to do so and later turned himself in to police.
Balmer was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which he rejected, and reportedly targeted Shapiro due to"perceived injustices toward the people of Palestine".
June 14, 2025: Shooting of Minnesota legislators
The next attack saw two Minnesota Democratic state legislators attacked by a lone gunman.
Vance Luther Boelter first broke into the house of Senator John Hoffman, shooting him and his wife Yvette, hospitalising the pair.
He then travelled to the home of Melissa Hortman, shooting and killing her and her husband Mark.
Boelter then fled and sparked a massive manhunt, with police eventually capturing him the next evening.
A reported motive for Boelter's attacks was his strong anti-abortion views.
September 10, 2025: Assassination of Charlie Kirk
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is the latest chapter in a concerning trend in US politics.
The conservative commentator was speaking at Utah Valley College this morning when he was shot in the neck.
The gunman is still at large at the time of writing, but it is believed the shots were fired from a building up to 200 metres from where Kirk was speaking.
Kirk leaves behind a wife and two young children, and figures across America's political spectrum condemned the shooting.
"Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children," former president Barack Obama said on X.
The previous president Joe Biden also posted a statement against the shooting:"There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones".
