Charlie Kirk, co-founder and chief executive officer of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, has reportedly died after being shot while addressing students at Utah Valley University. He was 31.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social late Wednesday.
“The great, and truly legendary, Charlie Kirk, is gone,” Trump wrote. “We must all pray for him. A wonderful man from top to bottom. God bless him.”
Video circulating online shows Kirk seated onstage during the debate when a loud gunshot rang out. He appeared to clutch his neck before collapsing, prompting chaos as attendees ran for safety.
Authorities confirmed that Kirk was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. However, officials have yet to formally verify Trump’s statement declaring him dead.
Orem Mayor David Young said the suspected shooter has not been apprehended. “At this time, we do not believe there is a continuing threat to the public,” he told reporters, adding that an individual initially detained on campus was later cleared.
FBI Director Kash Patel also issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with him, his family, and all those impacted.”
Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman who attended the event, described the incident as surreal. “I heard one shot and saw Charlie fall back. It seemed like it was fired from close range,” he told Fox News, adding that security at the event was inadequate.
The university, which had faced calls from some students to cancel Kirk’s appearance, defended its decision last week on free speech grounds. “UVU is committed to intellectual inquiry, constructive dialogue, and the First Amendment,” the school said in a statement.
Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit when the shooting occurred. Known for his staunch support of Trump, he was a polarizing figure on college campuses but also a powerful force in conservative youth politics.
The attack comes at a time of rising political violence in the United States. Recent incidents include the assassination of a Minnesota state legislator and her spouse in June, an arson attempt on the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in April, and the shooting of Trump at a campaign rally last year.
Chaffetz reflected on the broader implications: “Utah is one of the safest places in the country. To see this happen here is deeply disturbing.”
