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Charlie Kirk, Trump ally and rightwing activist, shot and killed at Utah university Charlie Kirk, Trump ally and rightwing activist, shot and killed at Utah university
(32 minutes later)
Far-right commentator killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, shocking members of both political parties Far-right commentator killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, as Trump blames ‘radical left’ while suspect remains at large
Charlie Kirk shooting – follow the latest updatesCharlie Kirk shooting – follow the latest updates
Explainer: what we know so farExplainer: what we know so far
Charlie Kirk, the founder of the powerful rightwing youth activist group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and a close ally of Donald Trump, was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon while speaking at a university campus event in Utah.Charlie Kirk, the founder of the powerful rightwing youth activist group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and a close ally of Donald Trump, was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon while speaking at a university campus event in Utah.
His death shocked the country as members of both political parties expressed outrage at the killing. Spencer Cox, the Utah governor, called the shooting a “political assassination” without providing details of a motive. Trump ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the 31-year-old conservative youth leader. His death shocked the nation as members of both political parties expressed outrage at the killing. Spencer Cox, the Utah governor, called the shooting a “political assassination” without providing details of a motive. A manhunt for the shooter was still ongoing late on Wednesday night.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” Cox, a Republican, said at a press conference, appealing for an end to the political violence that has stalked the country in recent months.“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” Cox, a Republican, said at a press conference, appealing for an end to the political violence that has stalked the country in recent months.
Kirk was speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU), near Salt Lake City, as part of the American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the university’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter and was attended by as many as 3,000 people, according to Jeffrey Long, the police chief at the university. Kirk was killed while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU), near Salt Lake City, as part of the American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the university’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter and was attended by as many as 3,000 people, according to Jeffrey Long, the police chief at the university.
Details about the shooter’s identity and motive are still unknown, but state authorities said they believed the incident was a “targeted attack”. Moments before the governor’s press conference began, the FBI director Kash Patel said a suspect was in custody, but shortly after, he announced that person had been interrogated by police and then released. Authorities did not reveal a name. Officials said no one is currently in custody. Details about the shooter’s identity and motive are still unknown, but state authorities said they believed the incident was a “targeted attack”. Kirk was about 20 minutes into a presentation when a single shot was fired at him, the university said.
Trump announced Kirk’s death in a social media post. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote, adding: “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.” Trump announced Kirk’s death in a social media post, and ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the 31-year-old conservative youth leader. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote, adding: “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
The president, along with other prominent conservatives, was quick to blame “radical left political violence” for Kirk’s killing. In a speech in the Oval Office, Trump called Kirk the “best of America”, and listed acts of violence that he attributed to the left while omitting violence against Democrats, such as the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker. The president, along with other prominent conservatives, was also quick to fan the flames of division by blaming the “radical left political violence” for Kirk’s killing. In a speech in the Oval Office, Trump called Kirk the “best of America”, and listed acts of violence that he attributed to the left while omitting violence against Democrats, such as the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker.
“For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now,” Trump said in his speech.
Through the day, two suspects were separately taken into custody but ultimately released. One person detained at the scene, George Zinn, was deemed not to be a suspect but was charged with obstructing justice. A second person taken into custody was released after being interviewed. Neither had ties to the shooting, according to the university.
Bystander footage of the shooting and its aftermath captured a chaotic scene. In videos circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen being struck in the neck by a bullet while speaking beneath a tent in the UVU courtyard in Orem, Utah. Video footage also shows students scrambling to run from the sound of gunfire. Kirk was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died, authorities said.Bystander footage of the shooting and its aftermath captured a chaotic scene. In videos circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen being struck in the neck by a bullet while speaking beneath a tent in the UVU courtyard in Orem, Utah. Video footage also shows students scrambling to run from the sound of gunfire. Kirk was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died, authorities said.
Local and campus police, the FBI and the Utah department of public safety are investigating the incident.Local and campus police, the FBI and the Utah department of public safety are investigating the incident.
Beau Mason, the commissioner of Utah’s department of public safety, said investigators were reviewing security camera images of the suspect, who wore dark clothing and possibly fired “a longer distance shot” from a roof.Beau Mason, the commissioner of Utah’s department of public safety, said investigators were reviewing security camera images of the suspect, who wore dark clothing and possibly fired “a longer distance shot” from a roof.
Law enforcement briefly took two people into custody before releasing them. One person was detained at the scene but deemed not to be a suspect, and the second person was released after being interviewed by police. Neither of the individuals had ties to the shooting, authorities said.Law enforcement briefly took two people into custody before releasing them. One person was detained at the scene but deemed not to be a suspect, and the second person was released after being interviewed by police. Neither of the individuals had ties to the shooting, authorities said.
At the press conference Wednesday afternoon, Cox pledged that authorities would find the shooter and hold them “accountable to the furthest extent of the law”.At the press conference Wednesday afternoon, Cox pledged that authorities would find the shooter and hold them “accountable to the furthest extent of the law”.
“And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah,” Cox said.“And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah,” Cox said.
In an internal email to staff members posted online on Wednesday, Justin Streiff, Turning Point USA COO, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that earlier this afternoon Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven … However, in the meantime, Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action will be closed for business until Monday, the 15th – likely longer.”In an internal email to staff members posted online on Wednesday, Justin Streiff, Turning Point USA COO, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that earlier this afternoon Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven … However, in the meantime, Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action will be closed for business until Monday, the 15th – likely longer.”
UVU announced that it would be closed for the remainder of the week and classes and other events would be suspended until Monday. In a statement, the university president said the campus was “shocked and saddened” by the violence and offered condolences to Kirk’s family.UVU announced that it would be closed for the remainder of the week and classes and other events would be suspended until Monday. In a statement, the university president said the campus was “shocked and saddened” by the violence and offered condolences to Kirk’s family.
“We grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy,” Astrid Tuminez said. “We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully. Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here. We do not condone any form of violence at UVU and seek to make our campus a safe place for all.”“We grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy,” Astrid Tuminez said. “We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully. Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here. We do not condone any form of violence at UVU and seek to make our campus a safe place for all.”
Eyewitnesses said Kirk was being questioned about mass shootings when he was shot in the neck.Eyewitnesses said Kirk was being questioned about mass shootings when he was shot in the neck.
A 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”.A 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”.“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.”“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”.Then, Pitts said, “everyone started running away”.
The shooting drew condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum.The shooting drew condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum.
“Political violence has no place in America,” said Kamala Harris in a statement. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, expressed a similar sentiment: “Political violence of any kind and against any individual is unacceptable and completely incompatible with American values.”“Political violence has no place in America,” said Kamala Harris in a statement. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, expressed a similar sentiment: “Political violence of any kind and against any individual is unacceptable and completely incompatible with American values.”
Mike Lee, a Utah senator, wrote: “Charlie Kirk was an American patriot … This murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation. The terrorists will not win. Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.”Mike Lee, a Utah senator, wrote: “Charlie Kirk was an American patriot … This murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation. The terrorists will not win. Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.”
Sam Levin contributed reporting