A conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday; witnesses and multiple news outlets report the attack was captured on cellphones and that Kirk later died from his injuries.
Charlie Kirk was onstage at an outdoor campus event when a single shot rang out, sending the crowd into chaos. Videos circulating online shows attendees ducking and running as security and emergency teams rushed to the scene; Kirk was quickly removed from the stage and taken to a nearby hospital. Early reports placed the time of the shooting around midday local time.
Authorities say the projectile may have come from a distance; police and federal agencies including the FBI and ATF were reported to be assisting investigators as they searched for the suspect and reviewed surveillance and cellphone footage. Initial law-enforcement statements on whether a suspect was in custody changed over the afternoon, with officials urging patience while the probe continues.
The shooting quickly drew national attention and immediate reactions from political leaders. Former President Donald Trump and several congressional figures expressed condolences and condemned political violence; university officials moved swiftly to secure the campus and cancel classes while investigators processed the scene.
Kirk, 34, rose to prominence as the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA and as a vocal supporter of conservative causes; his events and social-media presence made him both influential and controversial in recent years.
