Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing thousands at Utah Valley University (UVU), in what authorities are calling a political assassination.
Just months before, he had been warned by a California security expert that he was a target — advice he never acted on.
Charlie Kirk's Death At Utah Valley University
Kirk, 31, was speaking under a white gazebo in the quad — a bowl-shaped courtyard — to about 3,000 people when tragedy struck.
At around 12:20PM. local time, while answering a question about gun violence, a single gunshot rang out.
Eyewitness video shows Kirk jerking back in his chair, blood visible on his neck, before panic erupted among the crowd.
"I heard a loud shot, a loud bang and then I saw his body actually - in slow motion - kind of fall over," one eyewitness told reporters, per BBC News.
Although rushed to the hospital in a private vehicle, Kirk was pronounced dead within hours. Trump later confirmed the news on Truth Social. His wife and two children were present but unharmed.
Security Concerns Raised Months Before
In March, Kris Herzog — owner of The Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills, a firm known for working with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Sharon Stone — met with Kirk at a California State University rally.
He said he had directly warned the Turning Point USA founder: "I told him that a sniper would probably go for a headshot, which means it was of critical importance to have the ballistic glass."
Herzog recalled telling Kirk he would “100 percent be killed at one of his upcoming university speaking events” unless serious precautions were taken.
"Sadly he never got back to me and now my prediction of his murder has come true," Herzog told the Daily Mail.
The Expert’s Safety Proposals
Herzog claimed he recommended portable "B7 level" ballistic glass to block potential sniper fire, off-duty police officers to monitor rooftops, and screening measures for audiences.
"We recommended using metal detectors and handheld wands to screen everyone for a gun within 700 hundred feet of where Charlie would be speaking," he said.
Mark Wilson, a colleague of Herzog’s who attended the March rally, said he too discussed security concerns with Kirk: "We are huge Turning Point fans, being conservatives, and we'd discussed the lack of security because he's up close with these nutcase kids and doesn't appear that he ever wears a bullet proof vest. It's super sad what has happened."
Who Was Charlie Kirk?
Kirk rose to prominence as a polarizing figure in conservative politics. At 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA, a movement aimed at pushing conservative ideals on college campuses.
He became known for hosting open-air debates and rapid-fire Q&A sessions, while also building a wide following through his podcast and social media platforms.
Although frequently criticized for promoting controversial and conspiratorial claims, including the false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen, Kirk was celebrated by supporters as a free speech advocate who energized young conservative voters.
A close ally of Trump, Kirk regularly visited the White House and was deeply connected to the MAGA movement.