Charlie Kirk's final words before he was shot and killed at Utah Valley University are heard in footage of the incident that has been circulating on social media.
The conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA was speaking at a debate event when he was struck.
Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on social media at the time. On Truth Social, he wrote: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Video footage from the event on September 10 shows Kirk addressing the audience just before the shooting, discussing gun violence. During the discussion, an audience member approached the microphone to question Kirk about mass shootings. They asked: "Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?"
Kirk responded, “too many,” drawing applause from the crowd. The audience member then claimed the number was five and asked how many mass shooters there had been in the U.S. over the last decade. Kirk’s final words before being shot were: "Counting or not counting gang violence?"
A single gunshot rang out immediately afterward, striking Kirk in the neck. Crowds fled the scene in panic.
Authorities confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody, though the individual was later released. FBI Director Kash Patel said on Twitter: "The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency."
Another person briefly detained was released as officials determined they had “no current ties” to the shooting, per NBC.
President Trump expressed his grief in a video shared on Truth Social, saying he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the attack as a “political assassination.”
Investigators from the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety stated: "The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack.
"The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard.
"Any additional clarifications cannot be provided to protect the integrity of our investigation."
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to collect evidence to determine how the attack unfolded.