Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been confirmed dead after a shot was fired at him during an event in Utah.
Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on Wednesday while presenting at an event at Utah Valley University.
The incident occurred during a stop on the "American Comeback Tour," which Kirk was hosting on the university campus.
Video footage shared on social media shows Kirk addressing a large crowd when a loud sound, resembling a gunshot, is heard. Moments later, Kirk is seen moving his hand to his neck before falling off his chair, causing the attendees to flee the area in panic.
A spokesperson from Utah Valley University confirmed shortly after that a shot was fired from a nearby building and that a suspect is in custody. "A shot was fired from a nearby building, and we have a suspect in custody," the spokesperson told Reuters in an email.
Following the reports of the shooting, FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the incident, saying, “We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected.”
He also confirmed that FBI agents would be on the scene quickly to support the investigation.
Kirk, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and founder of TPUSA, had become a significant figure in promoting conservative values among young Americans. His events, often held on college campuses across the country, regularly drew large crowds of students.
Moments after it emerged that Kirk had been shot, President Trump wrote on X, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
The shooting comes amid an increase in political violence across the U.S. in recent years, which has affected individuals across the political spectrum.
The increase in political violence includes various incidents, such as the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, the firebombing of a Colorado parade, and an attack on the home of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor. The most infamous of these events was the shooting of Donald Trump during a campaign rally the previous year.