Former Mesa Governor Kirk Paul is in critical condition following an early morning shooting, police sources say.
ALDEN - Former Mesa Governor Kirk Paul has been rushed to the hospital after being shot early this morning. According to his family he is in critical condition. The assailant has been captured and arrested and is not currently cooperating with Police. The shooting occurred a little after 1:00 AM this morning.
"This is just unacceptable," said Captain C. Rodriguez of the Mesa Highway Patrol. "Paul is critical condition and is now fighting for his life. The Mesa Highway Patrol is committed to finding the cause of this shooting."
Kirk Paul has been known to spark hate across the state and investigators are saying that his racism and anti-LGBTQ sentiment could be a potential cause for this shooting. They say they are working with Governor Joshua Adamson's office as well as the State attorney General's office to investigate this shooting, and are calling in federal investigators as it involves a State government official.
"The Paul family is in our prayers as Kirk continues to fight for his life at the hospital," said Governor Joshua Adamson, who served as Paul's Lt. Governor from 2021-2023. "We will continue to keep in contact with his family as they work through this hard and difficult time."
No further word on the shooting are available at this time and Kirk Paul's condition remains as critical. Kirk Paul, 42, served as the 19th Governor Of Mesa from 2021 until his resignation in 2023. He has definitely ruffled feathers during his leadership including making several racist remarks during his time as host of Alden Prime Time.
The suspect, whose identity is being withheld pending the investigation, could face murder charges if Kirk Paul dies while in the hospital. Paul's family say it is absolutely "devastating." They say they are "working everyday to get past the death of Matt Paul, who died in 2022." They said they "will now have to work towards get Kirk healed and recovered."