The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, has been shot dead in the United States.
Kirk was fatally shot at an event at an Utah college on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
United States President Donald Trump said Kirk was shot and killed as he was speaking at Utah Valley University.
The shooting quickly drew reaction from leading political figures, including some victims of political violence.
Videos posted to social media show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone at the university’s Sorensen Center courtyard, sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans, “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.”
A single shot rings out and Kirk reaches up with his hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck.
A “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday evening, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said, though no charges were immediately announced.
That person was later released, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
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“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!”
Kirk was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University when the attack occurred.
Video from the scene showed 31-year-old Kirk speaking under a tent in front of a large crowd when the sound of a single shot rang out.
The footage showed Kirk appearing to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and the sound of panic began to erupt in the audience.
“Today at about 12:10 a shot was fired at the visiting speaker, Charlie Kirk. He was hit and taken from the location by his security. Campus police is investigating, a suspect is in custody,” the university said in a statement on social media.
A separate university statement quoted by Fox News said the shot had been fired from a long distance, although this could not be verified immediately.
The statement said: “Shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker.
“The individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel. Campus is closed for the rest of the day.”
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