Conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, according to multiple reports and a statement from President Donald Trump.
The shooting, which took place during an outdoor debate event, has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about political violence across the United States.
At approximately 12:10 p.m. local time, a single shot was fired at Kirk as he sat under a tent, addressing a crowd as part of his organisation’s ‘Prove Me Wrong’ series.
Videos from the scene, circulated widely on social media, show the 31-year-old Kirk speaking into a microphone when a shot rings out. He is seen reaching for his neck before collapsing as spectators scream and scatter.
Orem, Utah, Mayor David Young confirmed that a suspect has not been arrested and the search is ongoing. While the university initially stated a person was in custody, law enforcement officials later clarified that the person was a witness who was questioned and subsequently released.
In a statement on his Truth Social account, former President Donald Trump confirmed the death, writing, “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.”
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, but the event had been met with some opposition on campus. An online petition calling for Kirk’s appearance to be barred had received nearly 1,000 signatures. Despite this, the university had affirmed its commitment to free speech and constructive dialogue.
Leaders on both sides of the political spectrum have condemned the shooting.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that he and the FBI are working to “bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy.”
Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, described the attack as “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” stressing that “we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
According to former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, Kirk had some private security, but the police presence was light. Chaffetz described the incident as a single, close shot.
The shooting is the latest in a series of politically motivated violent acts documented since January 6, 2021, and serves as a grim reminder of the nation’s fractured political landscape.
Kirk was a prominent and influential figure in conservative youth politics. As the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, he built a powerful grassroots organisation with a mission to identify, educate, train, and organise students to promote conservative principles.
His daily radio talk show, ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’, and his frequent appearances on cable news made him a regular presence in the national political discourse.
Utah Valley University has closed its campus and cancelled classes until further notice as police and multiple agencies, including the FBI, continue their investigation.
