Charlie Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, the largest and most influential conservative youth organization in the U.S., was shot dead Wednesday during an event in Utah.
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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!"
Bystanders saw Kirk, 31, get shot near his neck during a forum with students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A video from the event showed Kirk bleeding heavily from an apparent gunshot wound near his neck.
There is no suspect in custody, a law enforcement source told CNN, despite the school saying earlier police did have someone in custody. University spokesperson Scott Trotter also said in a statement that the suspect is not in custody.
Another university spokesperson, Ellen Treanor, said that Kirk was struck about 20 minutes after he began speaking on campus, according to The New York Times. She said the shooter fired from the Losee Center, a building about 200 yards away.
Treanor said Kirk was taken away by his security team. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, confirmed that Kirk had been shot in the neck.
Cellphone video clips of the incident circulating on social media showed Kirk addressing a large outdoor crowd when a loud crack that sounded like a gunshot rang out. One video appeared to show Kirk’s head jerking back as he delivered remarks while sitting under a tent with the slogan "The American Comeback" printed on it. Kirk can be seen briefly moving his hand to his neck as he falls off his chair.
Kirk posted on X minutes before the incident, the Daily Mail reported. The post appears to have been deleted. It showed photos of Kirk and the crowd.
"WE. ARE. SO. BACK," Kirk wrote at 2.23 p.m., EDT. "Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour."
The event was the first of a 15-stop itinerary on what was billed as the American Comeback Tour. In recent years, Kirk had made college campus stops a centerpiece of his messaging, encouraging students and the general public to ask him questions directly in a debate-style format. At the time of the shooting, Kirk was sitting at a "Prove Me Wrong Table," where he answers questions from the crowd.
Kirk was one of the most prominent Trump supporters. He has gained millions of followers through Turning Point USA, an organization established in 2012 that advocates for conservative politics on high school and university campuses.
"In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M.," Trump wrote in another Truth Social post.
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that federal law enforcement was monitoring the incident.
"We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," he wrote. "Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation."
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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