Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday whereas chatting with a big crowd at Utah Valley College in Orem, President Donald Trump mentioned.
An unknown gunman fired on the 31-year-old Kirk from a constructing 200 yards away simply after midday native time, hitting him as soon as within the neck, the college mentioned.
Kirk, who was married with two youngsters, was taken to a close-by hospital, the place he had been in surgical procedure earlier than Trump introduced his loss of life.
The gunman remained at massive Wednesday afternoon, in line with a UVU spokeswoman.
U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk seems at a Utah Valley College talking occasion in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025.
Trent Nelson/the Salt Lake Tribu | Through Reuters
UVU cancelled lessons and instructed individuals who remained on campus to “safe in place till cops can escort you safely off campus.”
“The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is lifeless,” Trump wrote in a Fact Social publish.
“Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the US of America higher than Charlie,” Trump wrote. “He was liked and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s not with us. Melania and my Sympathies exit to his lovely spouse Erika, and household. Charlie, we love you!”
Trump ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-mast via Sunday to mark Kirk’s loss of life.
U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk throws hats to the gang shortly earlier than he was shot at a Utah Valley College talking occasion in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025.
Trent Nelson/the Salt Lake Tribu | Through Reuters
Kirk was the co-founder of Turning Level USA and head of a number of associated political organizations. HIs motion, which was aimed toward younger conservatives, has raised a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars}.
A staunch Trump supporter, Kirk was additionally a private good friend of high officers in Trump’s administration.
He was at Utah Valley College on Wednesday for the primary cease on Turning Level’s “American Comeback Tour,” in line with the group’s web site.
The occasion featured Kirk seated at his “show me mistaken desk,” a format during which he debated individuals who challenged his views.
UVU is Utah’s largest public college, with practically 47,000 enrolled college students as of fall 2023.
Shortly earlier than the capturing, Kirk tweeted in regards to the occasion.
“WE. ARE. SO. BACK,” Kirk wrote on X.
“Utah Valley College is FIRED UP and READY for the primary cease again on the American Comeback Tour.”
The scene after U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley College talking occasion in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025.
Trent Nelson/the Salt Lake Tribu | Through Reuters
Jason Chaffetz, a former Republican congressman from Utah, instructed Fox Information that he was on the occasion with household.
Kirk had been requested a query about “transgender shootings, mass shootings” proper earlier than being shot, Chaffetz mentioned.
“As quickly as this shot rang out, everyone hit the deck, after which everyone began scattering and yelling and screaming, as you may think,” Chaffetz mentioned. “I can not say I noticed blood. I can not say I noticed him get shot, however as quickly as that shot went out, he fell again into his left and everyone hit the deck.”
Kirk’s spouse, Erika Kirk, tweeted a biblical verse after the capturing.
“Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and power, a really current assist in bother,” Erika Kirk wrote.
Charlie Kirk speaks throughout a city corridor assembly Monday, March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wis.
Jeffrey Phelps | AP
Elected officers and others from each side of the political issued statements of help for Kirk after he was shot and condolences after his loss of life was introduced.
“There isn’t a place in our nation for this type of violence,” former President Joe Biden wrote in a tweet.
“It should finish now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s household and family members.
Jack Schlossberg, whose grandfather, President John Kennedy, was assassinated in November 1963, wrote on X, “Charlie Kirk was assassinated right now. we’re all weaker due to it. A tragedy. I’m pondering of his household.”
Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, a Democrat who was shot within the head by a gunman in Tuscon, Arizona, in 2011, mentioned, “The homicide of Charlie Kirk breaks my coronary heart. My deepest sympathies are along with his spouse, two younger youngsters, and buddies.”
“Democratic societies will all the time have political disagreements, however we mustn’t ever permit America to develop into a rustic that confronts these disagreements with violence. Assaults towards political or ideological opponents are cowardly and un-American, and have to be universally condemned,” Giffords mentioned.
“We do not but know what motivated the one who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, however this type of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama tweeted.
” Michelle and I will likely be praying for Charlie’s household tonight, particularly his spouse Erika and their two younger youngsters,” Obama wrote.
Minutes after Kirk was shot, a number of individuals had been shot in a separate assault at Evergreen Excessive Faculty, positioned west of Denver, Colorado.
Three juveniles had been in crucial situation after the capturing, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. A kind of juveniles is the suspected shooter, in line with the workplace.
Kirk’s slaying comes practically three months after a gunman killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortmann, a Democrat who beforehand served as speaker, her husband Mark Hortmann, and shot and wounded Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and his spouse Yvette Hoffman.
The suspect in that case, Vance Boelter, faces pending state and federal felony prices.
— CNBC’s Erin Doherty contributed to this story.
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