ST. LANDRY PARISH — The fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University is raising new questions about political violence and public safety across the country, including here in Acadiana.

"The fact that it happened on a college campus is even worse, you know," said LSUE student Brit Vick. Vick said he was sick to his stomach when he heard about the shooting.

"It was sickening, and I was with the baseball team at practice, and we were all just devastated," he said.

The freshman added that something like this should have never happened.

"He was just expressing his beliefs, and in a free country, that is okay,” Vick said.

Local leaders and political experts said the tragedy shines a spotlight on the increasingly tense political climate and has sparked co

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