Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a public event at Utah Valley University, officials confirmed. The shooting, which occurred at the start of the “American Comeback Tour,” is being treated as a political assassination.
Kirk, 31, was hosting a “Prove Me Wrong” debate table when a sniper-style shot struck him in the neck. The bullet was reportedly fired from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away, according to witnesses and law enforcement agencies. Video footage captured Kirk collapsing to the ground amid visible blood.
Initial reports suggested a suspect was in custody; however, officials later clarified that the individual had been released following questioning. A person of interest was taken into custody and then released after interrogation, with investigators continuing their search.
The attack triggered an urgent, multi-agency investigation involving the FBI and ATF, while the university campus was evacuated and secured.
Reactions poured in from political leaders across the spectrum. Utah Governor Spencer Cox denounced the killing as a political assassination, calling it “a dark day for our state.”
President Trump and officials like Vice President J.D. Vance and Governor Gavin Newsom offered condolences and condemned the assault.
Kirk, widely known for energizing conservative youth and his role at Turning Point USA, is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children. The investigation is ongoing with no confirmed motive yet, and authorities have pledged to continue providing updates.
