The Cornelius city councilor whose online post celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk drew instantaneous outrage has resigned.
Former City Councilor John Colgan wrote on social media that the Wednesday shooting death of Kirk “brightened up my day,” adding later that Kirk was a “ghoul” who supported the Second Amendment even in the aftermath of school shootings.
Colgan’s comments were quickly documented and broadcast on various channels, leading to a deluge of anger.
On Friday evening, Cornelius Mayor Jeffrey Dalin announced that the elected official had tendered his resignation — effective immediately.
“In his resignation, he expressed that he is deeply sorry for his comments and the harm they caused to our community and staff,” Dalin wrote.
Colgan, 38, teaches science at Neil Armstrong Middle School, according to a staff roster. Officials initially said that Colgan’s post was made when he was off duty, but the educator has since been placed on leave, according to several local reports.
Kirk, a well known conservative influencer and ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot by a rooftop sniper while debating students at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old left behind a wife and two children.
Federal officials announced the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect in the killing, Tyler Robinson, on Friday and denounced the killing as a part of spate of political violence.
Law enforcement officials say Robinson wrote messages on the rounds found in his rifle. Some had antifascist origins but were also used in video game culture, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, which established a chapter at Portland State University and was the subject of a heated protest earlier this year after inviting the activist and former athlete Riley Gaines to speak on campus.
The Portland chapter’s president didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Though he didn’t attend the University of Oregon, Kirk was an ardent supporter of the Oregon Ducks and made time to attend football games in person.
Colgan was first elected to the Cornelius City Council in 2018 and won his unopposed re-election in 2022 with about 2,500 votes out of about 12,000 residents, Washington County figures show.
He didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the Forest Grove School District.
Dalin, the mayor, said Colgan’s social media message didn’t reflect the city or his own values.
“Violence is never an acceptable response to differences in opinion or belief. I strongly condemn all acts of political violence and stand firmly against words or actions that could incite it,” he wrote. “Moving forward, my focus remains on rebuilding trust, strengthening our community, and ensuring that Cornelius continues to be a safe and welcoming place for all.”
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