Right Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot At Speaking Event In Uta

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 12:26 AM

right wing activist charlie kirk fatally shot at speaking event in uta

Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP) Tess Crowley/AP/The Deseret News hide caption Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and an ally of President Trump, died after a shooting at an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, according to Kirk's organization Turning Point USA and... On Wednesday evening, FBI director Kash Patel said on X that a person of interest was released after being interviewed by law enforcement. Another person, who was detained at the event and videos of him circulated online, also did not match the shooter's description, authorities said.

"Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency," Patel said. In a video message posted on Truth Social, Trump said he was "filled with grief and anger" over Kirk's killing. The president also commended Kirk's work with young Americans, calling him a "martyr for truth and freedom." Police initially took two people into custody but later released them. Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist organization Turning Point USA, has died after he was shot during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said. "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump said on social media.

"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!" Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the fatal shooting a "political assassination."

The manhunt for the suspected shooter is still underway and the investigation is still ongoing, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead at a Utah university event on Wednesday. (Produced by Elaine Carroll) Charlie Kirk, who rose from a teenage conservative campus activist to a top podcaster and ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday during one of his trademark public appearances at a... He was 31. Kirk died doing what made him a potent political force — rallying the right on a college campus, this time Utah Valley University.

The event was kicking off a planned series of Kirk college appearances from Colorado to Virginia dubbed “The American Comeback Tour.” His assassination was one of an escalating number of attacks on political figures, from the assassination of a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota to last summer’s shooting of Trump, that have... Trump announced Kirk’s death on his social media site, Truth Social. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, United States. The outdoor event was the first stop of the Fall 2025 season for the American Comeback Tour, a speaking and debate series planned by Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization that he co-founded. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while engaging with an audience member about mass shootings in the United States by a sniper on the roof of a building approximately 142 yards (130 m)...

The next day, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson surrendered himself to the local sheriff. Prosecutors charged Robinson with murder on September 16 and announced they would seek the death penalty, alleging the attack was politically motivated.[2][3][4] The assassination was highlighted as an instance of increasing political violence within the United States and was condemned by national and foreign leaders. Video footage of the shooting spread rapidly on social media, and reactions ranged from heartfelt messages expressing anguish about the political climate to sharply partisan comments and celebrations of his death.[5][6][7] President Donald Trump,... The Trump administration called for a crackdown against what it called "political extremism" on the left,[10][11][12][13] which was widely criticized by free speech advocates and legal experts as using the assassination as a pretext... Charlie Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality, known for co-founding and serving as CEO of Turning Point USA.[17][18] A close ally of US president Donald Trump, Kirk utilized his...

Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and an ally of President Trump, died after a shooting at an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, according to Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA and... The organization said in a statement, “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot that took place during Turning Point USA’s ‘The American... Earlier, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.” In a later post, Trump said he has ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening to honor Kirk, who was 31. Utah Valley University said a suspect in the shooting is not in custody.

In an email to NPR, university spokeswoman Ellen Treanor said a person had been detained earlier but said, “That individual was released, it is still an active investigation.” Police still hunting for shooter after Turning Point USA founder was killed at Utah Valley University From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Influential right-wing activist Charlie Kirk has died at age 31 after being shot in the neck by an assassin during a Utah college campus speaking event. Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of the city where a vigil was held Wednesday night. It has been corrected to Orem, Utah.

We regret the error. LATEST UPDATES: Authorities search for Charlie Kirk’s shooter Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a single shot in a targeted attack during an outdoor event Wednesday at Utah Valley University, authorities said. Kirk co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump. WATCH: Prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk killed at event in Utah

Right Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot At Speaking Event In Uta

People Also Search

Charlie Kirk Hands Out Hats Before Speaking At Utah Valley

"Our Investigation Continues And We Will Continue To Release Information

"No One Understood Or Had The Heart Of The Youth

The Manhunt For The Suspected Shooter Is Still Underway And

The Event Was Kicking Off A Planned Series Of Kirk