Charlie Kirk, one of the most prominent conservative activists and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot on Wednesday during a speech to students and others in the community of Utah Valley University (UVU). The fatal bullet was heard at approximately 12.20 p.m. local time when the 31-year-old organizer and founder of Turning Point USA was talking to a crowd of about 3,000.
Kirk had been answering a question about gun violence, as eyewitnesses said, under a white gazebo in the university quad, when a loud bang startled the session. The video of the incident showed Kirk jerking back in his chair, and his neck showed blood, and he fell. There was panic among the crowd, and people scattered to take shelter as screams resounded in the courtyard.
How did the incident occur?
The incident has been termed an assassination by officials in Utah. The state Department of Public Safety confirmed the arrest of two suspects during the first hours but admitted that both were released during the investigation when officers found that the suspects had nothing to do with the shooting. The police forces have since conducted a massive manhunt.
According to one of the eyewitnesses, “I heard a loud shot, a loud bang, and then I saw his body actually – in slow motion – kind of fall over.”
One of the reporters of Deseret News, Emma Pitts, said, “We all dropped to the ground, and I want to say we sat like that for about 30 to 45 seconds, and then everyone around us got up and started running.”
Kirk was immediately rushed to the hospital in a private car, and later on the same day, President Donald Trump confirmed his death on Truth Social a few hours later: “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.” He also shared, “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me.”
The police suspect that the shooter was on the roof of the Losee Center in UVU, which commands the courtyard. The investigators have also studied CCTV videos and even videos on social media that appear to portray a character who is dressed in dark clothing in front of the building, nearly right after the shooting. However, it was noted that the quality of the video is so poor that one cannot be certain what was being captured.
The shooter has since been searched by the authorities, who have evacuated the university campus. The Department of Public Safety updated that, “This shooting is still an active investigation.” Eventually, two suspects have been arrested in this context, and the investigation is underway.
The campus was cordoned off, and police sent to conduct door-to-door searches that were heavily armed. There was as little harm done to anybody as there was a lot of chaos. The wife and two small children of Kirk, who were present at the event, were not hurt.
About Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk emerged as one of the most vocal conservative voices, founding Turning Point USA in 2012, at the age of 18. The party was interested in spreading conservative ideas among the young electorate at the traditionally Democratic colleges. Kirk was famous for his open-air debates, where he answered questions as quickly as possible, often on topics ranging from gun rights to climate change, religion, and family values.
One of the frequent guests of the Trump White House, Kirk became a close friend of the president and a key contributor to organizing younger followers of the MAGA movement. He was well respected by most conservatives because of his advocacy of free speech and conservative principles, but at the same time, his critics found him to be a polarizing figure who conspiracy theorized about the stolen 2020 presidential election.
Shockwaves Across the Globe
Following the assassination of Kirk was condemnation and mourning worldwide. Trump was not long in calling him a beloved and admired voice of the American youth. Former US presidents did not remain silent on either of these issues. Joe Biden said, “No place in our country for this kind of violence.” Barack Obama stated, “Shooting is a despicable act.”
World leaders also offered their condolences. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of free discussion without fear of physical assault, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the so-called terrible murder as a crippling cut to democracy. Argentinean President Javier Milei called Kirk a mighty disseminator of liberty and a champion of the West.
Many high-profile White House officials, including the Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, express their condolences.
Rising Political Violence
The attack helps to feed the rising concerns about politically inspired violence in the United States. According to the statistics offered by the University of Maryland, over 150 politically motivated attacks were observed in the first half of 2025, which is nearly twice as many as the year before. Scholars are warning that the assassination of Kirk can trigger a flashpoint that can result in more violence on both ends of the political spectrum.
Kirk was killed following a series of high-profile attacks in the recent past. The assassination attempt was aimed at President Trump himself twice in his campaign in 2024, once in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he suffered an injury to the ear. Last year, the top Democratic legislator in Minnesota was assassinated in their home, and the house of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire as his family home was being attacked.
Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, stated, “We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear.” Also, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni said, “atrocious murder” was “a deep wound for democracy.” Argentinian President Javier Milei marked, “a formidable disseminator of the ideas of freedom and staunch defender of the West.”
Nancy Pelosi, a former House speaker, whose husband was senselessly beaten in 2022, said the shooting at UVU was horrific and reprehensible. Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman, who survived a gun attack in 2011, encouraged Americans to avoid violence as a tool for solving political differences.
National Mourning
President Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening condemned radical left political violence and vowed to restore safety. The opponents criticized his remarks for not referring to violence against the politicians on either side of the spectrum.
With the country reeling in the wake of the assassination of one of its most prominent conservative leaders, there is concern in the air over the safety of government leaders and over the emergence of political extremism. To his friends, the death of Kirk is not only the death of a friend and a leader but a scary moment in the history of politics in the country.
