WASHINGTON (TNND) -- Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event on a college campus, an incident that law enforcement believes was a targeted attack.

Was there a possibility this could have been prevented? FBI director Kash Patel said the agency is "closely monitoring" the situation as it continues to investigate.

Former FBI agent Dr. R.J. Toledo commented on the vulnerability of such events in an interview with The National News Desk, saying, "From a security perspective, he was definitely in a vulnerable position. But it's not an uncommon one for anybody who's holding an outdoor event such as that."

Despite traveling with security, Kirk's protection was limited compared to that of a presidential candidate.

"Whatever security detail he had, it's going to pale in comparison to the work that's done by the Secret Service or other agencies when they're protecting a president or a candidate," Toledo said.

The investigation is in its early stages, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) focusing on the weapon used in the attack. Toledo explained, "They're going to start running tests for fingerprints and DNA. They want to match that. That's the weapon that the suspect used. They're going to do ballistic tests."

The governor has called the incident a political assassination, highlighting the gravity of the situation.