Renowned right-wing youth activist Charlie Kirk has been pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital following a shooting during a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The explosion from the single gunshot sparked panic among thousands of people who had gathered near a tent where Kirk was seated.
The rally had been running smoothly, but then there was a sharp crack of gunfire when the 31-year-old was answering questions from the audience. Video from the scene shows him collapsing backwards in his chair as he starts bleeding from his neck, which is when the camera jolts away, and screams erupt.
People ducked, dropped to the ground, and scrambled in all directions. The shot rang out while Kirk was midway through a question-and-answer session, according to eyewitness and former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz.
“Everybody hit the deck, everybody… A lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running,” Chaffetz recalled. He said Kirk had been speaking about sensitive topics just before the gunfire, including transgender issues and the issue of mass shootings.
On campus, police issued an immediate shelter-in-place order as they worked to secure the area. Christine Nelson of Utah Valley University police confirmed that shots had been fired and urged students and staff to remain inside.
An official alert initially clarified that a single shot had been aimed at a visiting speaker and that one suspect was in custody. Later, a subsequent update from a Utah Valley University spokesperson confirmed that the elderly man who was detained was not the shooter, and the suspect remains at large.
The gravity of the situation quickly spread beyond the university, drawing global attention as the video circulated online. Former President Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk, reacted on his Truth Social platform, saying, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Not long after the shooting, the report of his death flooded the media. The announcement was made by Trump, who hailed Kirk as a Legend and described him as someone who was “loved and admired by all” in a post on his Truth Social platform. The president also expressed his sympathies to Kirk’s family.
Kirk, who has a wife and two kids, has become one of the most visible figures in conservative youth politics. His organisation, Turning Point USA, has made him a fixture on campuses across the country, where he promotes conservative values and often clashes with opposing views. His presence has drawn both devoted supporters and outspoken critics.
At Utah Valley University, the day was supposed to be another stop on Kirk’s circuit of speaking engagements, where he mixes policy discussions with his trademark confrontational style.
