URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) -- Less than 36 hours after conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event in Utah, dozens met on the University of Illinois campus Thursday evening for a vigil to remember his life.

"I was dumbfounded," said U of I sophomore Sam Holmes.

Holmes is a sophomore at the U of I, and president of the school's Turning Point USA chapter -- the organization Kirk founded. Holmes said he got the news of Kirk's death on Wednesday while at the gym and knew he wanted to do something.

"We ultimately decided that we need to do a commemoration event and as soon as possible," Holmes said. "So that's when the idea of a candle vigil first came to play in our group chat."

Both students and adults say they're feeling the weight of his death, and they want ch

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