Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot in Broad Daylight at Utah Valley

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OREM, Utah — September 10, 2025 — Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, authorities confirmed. He was 31.

The shooting occurred around 12:10 p.m. local time during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” event. Witnesses said he was onstage addressing the crowd under a large tent when a gunshot struck him in the head or neck area. Attendees fled in panic as emergency crews rushed Kirk to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement said the gunfire came from a building roughly 200 yards from the stage. A man initially taken into custody was later released after investigators determined he was not the shooter. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are leading the search for the suspect, who remains at large. No motive has been disclosed.

The killing sparked swift national reaction. President Joe Biden condemned the attack, calling it “violence that has no place in our country,” and said he and First Lady Jill Biden were praying for Kirk’s family. Former President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Senator Mike Lee, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox also issued statements of grief and outrage.

Kirk rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative student group that became a fixture in right-wing politics during the Trump era. His podcasts and campus events drew large audiences while also making him a frequent target of criticism from opponents who accused him of spreading misinformation and fueling political polarization.

The Utah shooting comes amid heightened tensions over political violence in the United States. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and await official updates as the investigation continues.