OREM, Utah. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in what officials described as a political assassination.
Kirk, 31, was addressing more than 3,000 attendees at the opening stop of his “American Comeback Tour” when a single gunshot struck him in the neck around 12:20 p.m. local time. Videos posted online show Kirk collapsing as blood poured from his wound, sending the crowd fleeing. The Associated Press verified the footage was taken at the university’s Sorensen Center courtyard.
Authorities said the shot appeared to have been fired from a rooftop overlooking the event. Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the killing, declaring, “This is a dark day for our state, it’s a tragic day for our nation. I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”
Confusion surrounded the suspect’s status. Cox said a “person of interest” was in custody, while the Utah Department of Public Safety reported the gunman was still “at large.” FBI Director Kash Patel also posted that the shooter was in custody. Police have not released the identity of the suspect or confirmed a motive.
Just moments before the attack, Kirk was taking questions from the audience about mass shootings and gun violence. In one exchange, he responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Seconds later, a shot rang out.
The university immediately evacuated the campus, canceled classes, and ordered remaining students and staff to shelter in place as heavily armed officers searched the area. Police were seen showing residents in nearby neighborhoods a photograph of a possible suspect.
Trump, who credited Kirk and his organization for mobilizing young voters during his successful reelection bid, mourned the loss in a statement on Truth Social: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.” Trump also ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff until Sunday in Kirk’s honor.
Kirk, who had 5.3 million followers on X and hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast and radio program, rose to prominence by promoting conservative causes on college campuses and frequently clashing with liberal critics. His organization, Turning Point USA, has grown into the largest conservative youth network in the country.
Bipartisan condemnation of the shooting followed swiftly. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.” California Governor Gavin Newsom called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” while former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, herself a survivor of political gun violence, expressed condolences to Kirk’s family.
The killing adds to a troubling surge of political violence in the United States. In the past year alone, Trump survived two assassination attempts, while other officials from both parties—including Democratic lawmakers and state governors—have been targeted in shootings, arson attacks, and plots.
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended the event, said security was present but insufficient. “It seemed like it was a close shot,” he told Fox News. “Utah is one of the safest places on the planet, and so we just don’t have these types of things.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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