Charlie Kirk, the prominent pro-life conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday afternoon from injuries sustained in a shooting at Utah Valley University.
The attack, which occurred during a campus event, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over leftist violence in the United States.
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while speaking at an outdoor event dubbed the “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, around 12:10 p.m. MDT, according to campus officials. Videos circulating on social media captured the moment a single shot rang out, showing Kirk recoiling and bleeding heavily from his neck as panicked spectators fled.
He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries, the official said.
“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA, said earlier in the day, before Kirk’s death was confirmed.
The university reported that a suspect is in custody, though no details about the individual or their motive have been released. Later reports from multiple news outlets confirmed the apprehended suspect was not the shooter.
The FBI and ATF are assisting local authorities in the ongoing investigation.
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The shooting has drawn reactions from political leaders across the spectrum. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Vice President JD Vance called Kirk “a genuinely good guy and a young father,” urging prayers for his family.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the attack, stating on X, “Political violence is NEVER acceptable. My thoughts and prayers are with Charlie Kirk and his family.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was being briefed by law enforcement and emphasized, “Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, added, “Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”
Kirk, a vocal advocate for pro-life causes and conservative values, was a polarizing figure known for mobilizing young conservatives through Turning Point USA. His appearance at Utah Valley University, the first stop on a 14-city tour. The university defended his right to speak, citing First Amendment protections.
Kirk himself had faced prior hostility, including an attack on a Turning Point USA reporter and security guard at the University of Washington in May 2024, as he noted on X.
