Two staff members at School District 49 are on administrative leave following reports that they approved of the Charlie Kirk assassination.

Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Two students arrested, gun confiscated at Mesa Ridge High School

The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody on Thursday night, about 33 hours after the shooting, FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. The agency had received more than 11,000 tips as of Friday morning, the most since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, he said.

According to Gazette new partner KOAA, D-49 said on Friday that the following statement was released to families at The Campus, which includes the Springs Studio for Academic Excellence and the Pikes Peak Early College:

“Campus Families –

“We are actively investigating reports that two of our staff members may have reacted to the news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk in ways that indicated approval of that action. We do not condone this kind of behavior, particularly in the presence of students.

“Leaders at The Campus, the Sand Creek Zone, and District 49 take every report like this one very seriously. Behaviors like those described are a clear violation of the expectations we have for everyone associated with the District. We hold ourselves to a higher standard.

“At this time, the staff involved have been placed on administrative leave while we continue to review the matter. Because these issues are an ongoing personnel matter, we will not provide further information or comments. As always, we thank you for your trust and understanding.”

– Dustin Horras, Sand Creek Zone Superintendent

District 49 covers the Falcon area and eastern edge of Colorado Springs.

The Sand Creek Zone is located at the southern end of District 49, according to D-49’s website. The zone includes Evans Elementary, Horizon Middle, Remington Elementary, Sand Creek High School, Springs Ranch Elementary, Stetson Elementary and the Campus, comprised of Springs Studio for Academic Excellence and Pikes Peak Early College. The Sand Creek Zone is made up of 5 Title 1 schools, receiving federal funding to support academic achievement and growth.

Matthew Dowd, an MSNBC political analyst, who lost his job shortly after on-air comments about Kirk’s assassination, was the first of many – including educators – to face consequences in recent days for public statements or actions about the shooting, according to the Associated Press.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education commissioner warned the state’s teachers that making “disgusting” statements about Kirk’s assassination could draw sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of their teaching licenses. Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a memo to school district superintendents that he’d been made aware of “despicable” comments on social media.

A staff member at the University of Mississippi was fired after sharing “insensitive comments” about Kirk’s death, according to the school’s chancellor, Glenn Boyce. The university did not identify the employee or immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

The president of Middle Tennessee State University said he’d fired a staffer who offered “callous and inappropriate comments on social media” about the assassination. President Sidney A. McPhee did not identify the staff member but said the person “worked in a position of trust with our students.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.