Charlie Kirk, a pro-Trump activist, was shot dead
Conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk died Wednesday after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
Kirk, Turning Point USA co-founder, was participating in an event at the Orem, Utah, school as part of his organization’s The American Comeback Tour when he was attacked.
A suspect has not been identified, and state authorities said Wednesday evening a manhunt for the shooter is still in progress. Two people who were taken into custody earlier were not tied to the shooting and were later released.
The FBI said in a Wednesday night statement its Salt Lake City field office responded immediately to the shooting that killed Kirk. The agency said it has full resources devoted to this investigation, including tactical, operational, investigative and intelligence.
President Trump posted on Truth Social: 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 was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!
This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.
The university said in a statement shared to social media that a shot was fired at Kirk shortly after 12 p.m. local time, and he was hit. A single shot was fired, two law enforcement sources told CBS News.
Video of the incident showed Kirk speaking to a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate, where he invites students to challenge his political and cultural views, when the shot rings out.
The Utah college where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday is the state’s largest public university after years of rapid enrollment growth, but is lesser known than other colleges in the state.
