Students at Florida International University gathered Thursday evening to grieve and support one another following the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk .

Many of those in attendance were current or former members of Turning Point USA , the conservative nonprofit organization Kirk founded. Some said they had met him personally and considered him a mentor.

"These last 24 hours I've just been completely devastated to see what's been going on and my heart dropped to my knees, you know?" said Ian Valdes, president of the Turning Point USA FIU chapter.

"I'm still trying to come to terms that this is real — that Charlie Kirk is not on earth anymore. It's honestly like I'm living in a nightmare," said Cristen Lameira, former president of the FIU chapter.

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