Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. The 31-year-old conservative activist was shot in the neck while conducting a student question-and-answer forum on campus.
Videos circulating online appear to show Kirk recoiling after a shot was heard, with blood pouring from his neck at what was the first stop of his American Comeback Tour in which he planned to crisscross America and make the case of conservatism.
Video: WARNING: DISTURBING FOOTAGE: The attack on Charlie Kirk
About two hours after the shooting, President Donald Trump said he succumbed to his wounds. "The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead; no one understood and had the heart of the youth of the United States of America better than Charlie. He was admired by all." Trump added, "He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Ellen Treanor, speaking for the university, reported that the shooting occurred approximately 20 minutes into Kirk's campus address, The New York Times stated. The gunfire originated from the Losee Center, a campus structure located approximately 200 yards (183 meters) from the event site.
The suspected shooter was initially believed to have been detained, according to an alert the university sent to students, but it later turned out that the man was no related to the incident. There were no metal detectors to get into the event, Hickens said, though there was security by Kirk himself.
Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place.
We lost an…— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 10, 2025
Director Kash Patel announced that federal authorities are "closely monitoring" the incident, according to USA TODAY. "Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation," Patel posted on social media, USA TODAY reported.
This is a developing story.
