School district investigating Bothell principal who posted about Charlie Kirk on social media

A Bothell principal’s social media post about Charlie Kirk’s murder is now under investigation. A spokesperson for the Northshore School District said a third party will investigate.

Eric McDowell has been the principal of North Creek High School in Bothell for about a decade. The post on his personal Instagram, which has since been taken down, said gun control is more effective than thoughts and prayers, and Charlie Kirk would still be alive with sufficient gun control.

“Maybe thoughts and prayers will work..oops – nope,” McDowell wrote in the post.

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After backlash on right-wing media sites, McDowell wrote to families and staff on Sunday, saying he would step away “for the time being.”

“My post, sent as a private citizen on my personal Instagram account from my home, was meant to decry the lack of any forward progress on ending gun violence in America,” McDowell's letter read. “It was not meant to demean the murder of Mr. Kirk.”

“I was also not trying to be disrespectful to Christians or anyone of faith (my entire family is Christian),” he added in the letter.

Northshore School District said it launched an investigation in response to formal complaints and "in alignment with our standard processes." It has received about 30 emails and phone calls as well as about 60 anonymous comments about the matter, though some of those could have been from the same people.

Some of the comments have been complaints, but others have been supportive of the principal.

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“While public employees have the right to free speech, we also recognize the importance of maintaining trust and ensuring that our schools remain supportive for every student,” a spokesperson for the school district wrote in a statement. “The administrator has voluntarily stepped away for the time being to reflect and help refocus the school on teaching and learning and our students.”

Vice President JD Vance and other high-profile politicians have called for people who make disparaging comments about Charlie Kirk on social media to be fired.