OREM, Utah (WDNews) – Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University, drawing renewed focus on political violence in the United States.
Trump confirmed the death of the 31-year-old on social media, calling Kirk “Great, and even Legendary.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”
The shooting occurred while Kirk was speaking at the Sorensen Center courtyard on the university’s campus. Videos posted online show him answering questions from the audience when a single gunshot rang out. Witnesses said Kirk reached for his neck before collapsing as bystanders screamed and fled.
Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA, said, “We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie.”
Local officials said the suspected shooter remains at large. Orem Mayor David Young reported that one person was taken into custody at the scene but was not the suspect. Authorities have not released further details.
The campus event had sparked controversy in the days leading up to the shooting. Nearly 1,000 people signed a petition calling for the university to block Kirk from appearing. School administrators defended the decision, citing First Amendment protections and the school’s “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, became a prominent conservative figure for his outspoken criticism of liberal politics on college campuses and his support of Trump. He frequently appeared on national television and served as a surrogate for the Trump campaign.
Political leaders from both parties condemned the shooting. Trump called for prayers and wrote, “GOD BLESS HIM!” Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended the event, described the gunfire as “a close shot” and said security at the venue appeared minimal.
The killing comes amid a wave of politically motivated violence across the nation, including the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and an attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally last year.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the shooting.
