MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Utah: Pro-Trump activist Charlie Kirk shot dead

Kirk was a prominent young figure in the pro-Trump movement

Charlie Kirk, a 30-year-old conservative activist and founder of the organization Turning Point, was shot and killed on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. The incident, which was captured on video, has been described by Utah's governor as a “political assassination” and has sent shockwaves through the country.

Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking under a tent on the university campus. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.

The shooter, who was allegedly on a rooftop about 200 yards away, remains at large.

President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk's death on social media, calling him “a Great, and even Legendary” figure. He later ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. Other political leaders, including Utah Governor Spencer Cox and House Speaker Mike Johnson, condemned the killing, with Cox calling it a “dark day” for the nation.

Kirk was a prominent young figure in the pro-Trump movement and founded Turning Point, a conservative student organization with a strong presence on college campuses. The event where he was shot had generated controversy, with some in the academic community calling for him to be banned from campus.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by EVERYONE, especially me, and now he is no longer with us. Melania and my condolences go out to his beautiful wife Erika and his family. Charlie, we love you,” Trump wrote on social media. Vice President JD Vance also said, “A truly good man and a young father.”

Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) were deployed to the campus to investigate the incident. “We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and all those affected,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.

Kirk actively participated in the former president's rallies and attended his inauguration ceremony. He had spoken during the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump was shot.