Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot and killed on Wednesday during a public event at Utah Valley University.
State officials described the attack as a “political assassination.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that a “person of interest” had been taken into custody, though no charges were immediately announced. “This is a dark day for our state,” Cox said. “We are treating this as a political assassination. We urge anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.”
The Shooting
Authorities said the gunman wore dark clothing and fired from a rooftop on the campus, targeting Kirk from a distance.
Social media videos verified by the Associated Press show Kirk speaking at an outdoor event under a white tent labeled with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.”
As he spoke into a microphone, a single shot rang out. Kirk grabbed his neck as blood gushed from the left side, and the crowd screamed in shock before scattering.
The event was the first stop on Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” organized by his nonprofit group, Turning Point USA.
Moments before the attack, Kirk had been answering questions from the audience about mass shootings and gun violence.
Campus Lockdown
According to PBS news, Utah Valley University quickly evacuated the campus and canceled classes until further notice. Those who remained on campus were told to shelter in place until police escorted them out safely.
Armed officers patrolled nearby neighborhoods, showing residents a photo of a person of interest in hopes of identifying the shooter.
Reactions
Former President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social, calling the 31-year-old activist “Great, and even Legendary.” Trump added: “No one understood or connected with the youth of America better than Charlie.” The president also ordered flags flown at half-staff nationwide.
The shooting sparked swift condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.” Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, herself a survivor of a 2011 shooting, said: “The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, children, and loved ones.”
Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman who attended the event, told Fox News he heard a single gunshot and saw Kirk collapse. He noted that security at the event was light: “Utah is one of the safest places on the planet. We just don’t have these types of things.”
Rising Concerns About Political Violence
Although officials have not disclosed a motive, the circumstances of the attack have raised fears of growing political violence in the United States.
Recent incidents include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in June, a firebombing at a Colorado parade, and the arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor.
The most high-profile case was the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally last year.
Kirk’s Career and Influence
Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with William Montgomery, starting in suburban Chicago when he was just 18 years old.
The group struggled in its early years but later gained strong financial backing from conservative donors. Turning Point became famous for promoting low taxes, limited government, and challenging liberal ideas on college campuses.
Kirk’s rise in conservative politics accelerated after he threw his support behind Donald Trump in 2016. He became a close aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign and later a frequent guest on cable news programs, where he was known for sharp criticism of liberal politics and strong praise of Trump.
By his early 30s, Kirk had become one of the most visible conservative voices among young Americans. His organization hosted major political conferences attended by Trump, his family, and other top Republicans.