OREM, Utah (AP) — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a key figure in mobilizing young Republican voters, was shot and killed Wednesday during a campus event at Utah Valley University — an attack Governor Spencer Cox denounced as a “political assassination” carried out from a rooftop.
“This is a dark day for our state and a tragic day for the nation,” Cox said, vowing accountability under Utah’s death penalty laws.
Law enforcement initially gave conflicting information on whether a suspect was in custody. FBI Director Kash Patel said earlier that a person had been detained but later clarified that the individual was released after questioning. Utah officials separately confirmed a person of interest had been held, though their identity, potential motive, or charges remain undisclosed.
Shooting Captured on Camera
Video footage from the event shows Kirk speaking under a tent marked with slogans from his “American Comeback Tour.” As he addressed an audience question about gun violence, a single gunshot rang out. Kirk instinctively reached toward his neck as blood poured from a wound, sending the crowd into shock and chaos.
Authorities say the shooter, dressed in dark clothing, fired from a rooftop overlooking the courtyard. Witnesses fled as campus police and armed officers locked down the university, evacuating students and staff.
Bipartisan Condemnation
Former President Trump announced Kirk’s death on social media, calling the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder “Great, and even Legendary.” He ordered flags lowered to half-staff in his honor. Democratic leaders also condemned the attack, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom labeling it “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” while former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — a survivor of gun violence — expressed heartbreak over Kirk’s murder.
A Rising Tide of Political Violence
The assassination underscores mounting fears of politically driven violence in the U.S., which in recent years has cut across party lines and ideologies. From attacks on state officials to attempted assassinations of national figures, the nation faces intensifying concerns over grievances turning deadly.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA at age 18, rose to prominence as a combative defender of conservative values on college campuses. He became a frequent cable news presence and one of Trump’s most outspoken allies, cementing his status as a leading voice of America’s conservative youth movement.
Utah Valley University, where the shooting occurred, canceled classes indefinitely and reinforced security across campus. Police continued house-to-house searches in surrounding neighborhoods Wednesday night as the hunt for answers pressed on.
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