OREM, UTAH – In an event that has sent shockwaves across the nation, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed Wednesday at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old was the victim of a single gunshot while addressing a crowd during an event that was part of his “The American Comeback Tour.”
The shooting, which took place around noon local time, occurred as Charlie Kirk was seated under a tent, fielding questions from the audience.
Witnesses and video footage from the scene show a single shot ringing out, after which Kirk can be seen collapsing.
Security personnel immediately rushed to his aid, and he was transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved fatal.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox swiftly condemned the attack, labelling it a “political assassination.” The incident has spurred an immediate and intensive manhunt for the shooter.
Authorities, including the Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI, are working together to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Law enforcement officials have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle from a nearby wooded area where the shooter is believed to have fled.
While a person of interest was initially detained, they were later released after being determined to have no connection to the crime.
President Donald Trump, a close ally of Charlie Kirk, announced the tragic death on his social media platform, Truth Social, and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in Kirk’s honour.
In a statement, Trump called Kirk “great, and even legendary,” praising his ability to connect with young people. The event had drawn a significant crowd of approximately 3,000 people and had reportedly generated some campus controversy in the days leading up to it.
Charlie Kirk is accompanied by his wife and two children. His death has sparked a broader conversation about the rise of political violence in the United States and has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum.