Orem, Utah – September 11, 2025 – In a shocking act of political violence that has stunned the nation, Charlie Kirk, the fiery conservative activist, author, and co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot yesterday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU). The 31-year-old Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and a prominent voice in mobilizing young conservatives, was killed by a single gunshot to the neck while addressing a crowd of approximately 2,000 students and attendees. Authorities described the incident as a targeted “political assassination,” escalating concerns over rising partisan violence in the U.S.
The Incident: Chaos on Campus
The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. local time during TPUSA’s “American Comeback Tour,” an event where Kirk was known for handing out MAGA hats and engaging in lively debates on conservative issues. Eyewitnesses, including Deseret News reporters Emma Pitts and Eva Terry who were covering the rally, recounted a scene of sudden pandemonium. Kirk was mid-response to a question about mass shootings in America—specifically, a debate over the number of incidents involving transgender shooters—when a single shot rang out from a distance of 100-200 yards, likely from a rooftop overlooking the outdoor amphitheater.
“I saw Charlie Kirk’s neck turn to the side… there was a lot of blood,” Pitts told The Guardian in a phone interview shortly after. Video footage captured Kirk recoiling, clutching his neck, and collapsing backward off his chair, sending the crowd scrambling for cover. Former Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended with his family, described hearing one shot and seeing Kirk fall: “I was watching Charlie… the crowd just erupted in screams.”
Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle but was pronounced dead upon arrival, according to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason. The university issued an immediate lockdown, and the campus remains closed through September 14, with counseling services offered to students, faculty, and staff who witnessed the tragedy.
Manhunt Underway: Shooter Still at Large
As of this morning, the suspect remains at large, with no arrests made. The shooter, described as wearing all-dark clothing, fired from an elevated position, prompting a multi-agency manhunt involving the FBI, Utah State Police, and local authorities. A “person of interest” was briefly detained and interrogated but released after no direct ties were established, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X. Patel emphasized the FBI’s full involvement, setting up a digital tip line for leads.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, called the killing a “dark day for our state” and a “political assassination,” vowing to bring the perpetrator to justice. “Whoever did this: We will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Cox stated during a press conference. Security at the event has come under scrutiny; attendees noted minimal checks, with no barcode scans or metal detectors required for entry despite the ticketed nature of the rally.
This incident marks a grim escalation in political violence. According to the Center for Strategic International Studies, there have been 25 partisan-motivated attacks or threats against officials, candidates, and activists since 2016, including recent assaults on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers.
A Rising Star in Conservative Politics
Charlie Kirk’s life was a whirlwind of activism that began in his teenage years. Born Charles James Kirk on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois—a suburb of Chicago—he grew up in a politically engaged family. As a high school student at Wheeling High School, Kirk volunteered for Sen. Mark Kirk’s 2010 campaign and led a successful protest against a cookie price hike in the cafeteria. An Eagle Scout, he briefly attended Harper College but dropped out in 2012 to pursue full-time activism after meeting Tea Party organizer Bill Montgomery.
That same year, at just 18, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA with Montgomery, aiming to counter liberal bias on college campuses. Backed by major donors like Foster Friess, TPUSA exploded in influence, establishing chapters at over 3,000 high schools and colleges. Initiatives like the “Professor Watchlist”—which exposed educators allegedly pushing left-wing agendas—and the “School Board Watchlist” became hallmarks of Kirk’s strategy to engage Gen-Z voters. By 2024, TPUSA’s budget exceeded $100 million annually, though Kirk faced scrutiny over finances: his salary ballooned from $27,000 in 2013 to nearly $300,000 by 2020, coinciding with the purchase of an $855,000 Florida condo.
Kirk’s media empire amplified his reach. He hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a daily radio program syndicated on Salem Media’s “The Answer” network, boasting 500,000–750,000 podcast downloads per episode and ranking No. 13 on Apple Podcasts’ news category. His books, including Time to a Turning Point (2016), The MAGA Doctrine (2020), and Right Wing Revolution (2024), became bestsellers among conservatives. In 2018, Forbes named him to its 30 Under 30 list, and Liberty University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2019.
A staunch Trump supporter, Kirk spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and founded Students for Trump, recruiting over a million young voters for the 2020 election. He organized “Stop the Steal” rallies post-2020 and was linked to funding for buses to the January 6 Capitol event, invoking the Fifth Amendment during congressional probes. Kirk promoted election fraud claims, COVID-19 misinformation (earning a brief Twitter ban in 2020), and denied climate change. Socially, he opposed abortion (except in life-threatening cases), LGBTQ+ rights, and critical race theory, once calling the 1964 Civil Rights Act a “huge mistake” and criticizing Martin Luther King Jr. as overrated.
In recent years, Kirk embraced Christian nationalism, founding Turning Point Faith to rally evangelicals and warning of a “spiritual battle” between “woke-ism/Marxism” and traditional American values. His 2024 “You’re Being Brainwashed” tour visited 25 campuses, credited with boosting youth turnout for Trump’s re-election. In March 2025, Trump appointed him to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. Just weeks ago, Kirk invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit, praising him as a defender of “Judeo-Christian civilization.”
Bipartisan Outrage and National Mourning
President Trump, who called Kirk “the best of America” and a “truly Great American Patriot,” released a four-minute video statement: “Charlie was such an amazing guy… This violence cannot happen. It’s a dark moment for our country.” Trump ordered U.S. flags at half-staff until September 14 and plans to honor Kirk at a Yankees-Tigers game today, coinciding with 9/11 remembrances. First Lady Melania Trump posted an emotional tribute: “Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories… May God bless his family.”
Condolences poured in from across the aisle. Former President Joe Biden: “There is no place for this kind of violence. Jill and I are praying for Charlie’s family.” Former President George W. Bush: “Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square.” Barack Obama deemed it “despicable,” while Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom condemned it as “vile” and a threat to democracy. Israeli PM Netanyahu mourned Kirk as a “lion-hearted friend of Israel.” Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. James Lankford also shared prayers.
TPUSA issued a statement: “We are heartbroken… Charlie’s legacy will live on.” A makeshift memorial has formed outside TPUSA’s Phoenix headquarters.
Legacy and the Path Forward
Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve (Miss Arizona USA 2012), whom he married in 2021, and two young children born in 2022 and 2024. His death at 31 robs the conservative movement of a dynamic leader who reshaped youth engagement in politics. Critics decried his rhetoric as divisive, but supporters hailed him as a patriot fighting for “America First” principles.
As the investigation continues, Kirk’s assassination serves as a stark reminder of America’s deepening divides. In his final X post on September 10—hours before the shooting—Kirk decried the “senseless murder” of Iryna Zarutska, a victim of what he called failed “criminal justice reform,” urging Americans to “politicize” such tragedies for change. Now, his own death politicizes the urgent need for unity against violence.
The nation watches as justice is sought, but Kirk’s voice—once a rallying cry for millions—has fallen silent.
