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Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot during event at Utah Valley University Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot during event at Utah Valley University
(30 minutes later)
Turning Point USA executive director can be seen in video getting struck but condition is unknown Turning Point USA executive director in critical condition after being struck while hosting UVU event
Charlie Kirk shooting – follow the latest updatesCharlie Kirk shooting – follow the latest updates
Charlie Kirk, the powerful rightwing activist, Trump ally and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), has been shot on Wednesday while hosting an event in Utah. Charlie Kirk, the powerful rightwing activist, Trump ally and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was shot on Wednesday while hosting an event in Utah and is in critical condition at a hospital.
In video posts circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen getting struck while speaking and sitting beneath a tent in the Utah Valley University courtyard. Kirk was there as part of The American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the TPUSA chapter at Utah Valley. There is also video footage of students on campus running away from the sound of gunshots.In video posts circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen getting struck while speaking and sitting beneath a tent in the Utah Valley University courtyard. Kirk was there as part of The American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the TPUSA chapter at Utah Valley. There is also video footage of students on campus running away from the sound of gunshots.
“Today at about 12.10 a shot was fired at the visiting speaker, Charlie Kirk,” the Uuniversity said in a statement. “He was hit and taken from the location by his security. Campus police is investigating, a suspect is in custody.” A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that Kirk is in critical condition at a hospital. A TPUSA official told CBS of Kirk that “it doesn’t look good” and confirmed he was shot in the neck.
The school added that the campus has been closed and that classes are canceled until further notice. In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, the university said: “UVU campus is closed. Classes cancelled. Those on campus, secure in place until police officers can escort you safely off campus. We ask for your patience throughout this process. We are providing updates as best as possible. This is an ongoing and unfolding event.”
“Police are investigating,” the university added. “Leave campus immediately.” A spokeswoman for Utah Valley University told the Times that Kirk was struck by a suspect who had fired from a building about 200 yards away. There is no suspect in custody.
A spokeswoman for Utah Valley University told the Times that Kirk was struck by a suspect who had fired from a building about 200 yards away and that the suspect was not a student.
The TPUSA press team confirmed to Fox News that Kirk had been shot, but that his condition was unknown.
The Utah governor, Spencer Cox, posted on X that he would “continue to share updates” and that “those responsible will be held fully accountable”.The Utah governor, Spencer Cox, posted on X that he would “continue to share updates” and that “those responsible will be held fully accountable”.
“Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected,” he wrote.“Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected,” he wrote.
Mike Lee, a Utah senator, posted on X shortly after reports broke that Kirk had been shot to say he is “tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”Mike Lee, a Utah senator, posted on X shortly after reports broke that Kirk had been shot to say he is “tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”
Ashley Moody, a Florida senator, also posted on X to say her “office is monitoring the situation at Utah Valley University. I pray for Charlie Kirk, the students, and this nation.”
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
JD Vance, the vice-president, tweeted: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Those sentiments were echoed by the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”JD Vance, the vice-president, tweeted: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Those sentiments were echoed by the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”
The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University … Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University … Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”
Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma wrote in a post that he was praying for Kirk, and said that Kirk’s wife and their two children were all present at the event at UVU. Eyewitnesses told the Guardian that Kirk was being questioned about mass shootings when he was shot in the neck.
Deseret News reporter Emma Pitts, who was at the event, said that Kirk was on his second question and that it was “regarding mass shootings”.
“The person he was debating had asked about if he knew how many mass shootings had involved a transgender shooter to which Kirk responded,” Pitts said. Then, “he asked how many mass shootings had [there] been in the last couple of years” and “before he could even answer, we heard a gunshot and we just saw Charlie Kirk’s neck turn to the side and it appeared that he had been shot in the neck”.
“There was blood, immediately a lot of blood,” Pitts said. “After the shots were fired, everyone immediately took to the ground … we were just trying to stay hidden.”
Then, Pitts said, “everyone started running away”.
Eva Terry, another Deseret News reporter who was at the event, told the Guardian that the direction of the shot looked like it “came from the middle to the right side of the audience”.
Describing the suspect, Terry said that he looked like “an older gentleman, probably in his late 50s to 60s, wearing what looks like a worker’s uniform”.
The shooting was quickly condemned by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, who said “the attack on Charlie Kirk” was “disgusting, vile and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”The shooting was quickly condemned by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, who said “the attack on Charlie Kirk” was “disgusting, vile and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Shortly before shots rang out, Kirk tweeted: “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”Shortly before shots rang out, Kirk tweeted: “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”