Prominent conservative influencer and media figure Charlie Kirk, aged 31, was fatally shot in a targeted attack during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Kirk, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA—a youth organization focused on promoting conservative values on college campuses—was addressing a crowd of over 1,000 attendees as part of his “American Comeback Tour” when the incident occurred around 12:25 p.m. local time.
Eyewitness accounts and circulating social media videos describe a single gunshot ringing out from approximately 200 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck as he sat under a tent in the university quad near the food court. Footage shows Kirk recoiling, blood visible from the wound, before slumping in his chair as the crowd panicked and fled. He was immediately attended to by private security and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries despite undergoing emergency surgery.
The shooting prompted an immediate lockdown of the Utah Valley University campus, which has over 46,000 students and was closed for the remainder of the day. Initial reports from university officials indicated a suspect was in custody, but this was later clarified as erroneous—the detained individual was not the shooter, and as of the latest updates, the perpetrator remains at large. The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is closely monitoring the investigation, with agents on scene alongside local law enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Kirk’s death has elicited widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, highlighting concerns over rising political violence in the U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk’s, 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.” Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated he was being briefed by authorities and emphasized that “violence has no place in our public life,” urging unity in rejecting such acts. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” while Senator Bernie Sanders described it as “horrifying” and a call to end political violence. Vice President J.D. Vance and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) also expressed prayers for Kirk’s family, with Lee noting he was tracking the situation closely.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions, as Kirk’s campus events have drawn protests and petitions in the past, including one at Utah State University with nearly 7,000 signatures seeking to bar him. Just moments before the shooting, Kirk had posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the event’s energy: “Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.” Witnesses reported the discussion at the time involved topics like mass shootings and transgender individuals in relation to gun violence, though motives remain under investigation.
Kirk, a husband and father of two, leaves behind a significant legacy in conservative activism, having played a key role in mobilizing young voters for Trump’s campaigns and raising millions for Republican causes. Social media reactions have been mixed, with many expressing grief and others engaging in heated political discourse, underscoring the deep divisions exacerbated by the tragedy. Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid sharing graphic videos of the event, which have rapidly spread online.