Orem, Utah: US conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, prompting a statewide manhunt for the lone sniper believed responsible for what authorities called a political assassination.
The 31-year-old was addressing a crowd of roughly 3,000 when a single gunshot struck him in the neck. Kirk fell from the stage as attendees fled in panic.
Law enforcement said the suspected shooter, believed to have fired from a distant rooftop, remains at large. Two men who were briefly detained were later released, with no current links to the attack. Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the shooting a political assassination and described it as a tragic day for both the state and the nation.
President Donald Trump, in a video posted on his Truth Social platform, vowed that his administration would track down the perpetrator and anyone connected to the attack. Trump also ordered US flags flown at half-staff until Sunday in Kirk’s honor.
President Trump shares a message on the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived & died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law & the patriotic devotion & love of God.” pic.twitter.com/3fBSgs4Zxa
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 11, 2025
Seconds before he was shot, Kirk was responding to a student’s question on gun violence. He had planned to appear at 15 universities on his ‘American Comeback Tour’ and was a prominent figure in mobilizing young voters for Trump. Kirk hosted ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ and had 5.3 million followers on X.
The shooting comes amid a rise in politically motivated violence in the US, including previous attacks on Trump and other political figures. Lawmakers across party lines condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable and incompatible with American values.
Authorities continue their investigation and urged anyone with information to come forward as the manhunt for the sniper intensifies.
