Charlie Kirk was addressing 3,000 people at the University of Utah when a shot rang out during a question on gun violence.
Kirk recoiled with a neck wound as the crowd fled in panic. He was directly taken from his tent, bearing the words “prove me wrong,” to hospital—but was later confirmed dead by Donald Trump on the President’s Truth Social media platform.
Kirk’s wife and children were present at the time. Fortunately, like reportedly everyone else at the scene, they were physically unharmed by the shooting. The campus was evacuated as police searched for the sniper.
Authorities are treating Kirk’s killing as an assassination, but the shooter’s identity and motive remain unclear. Two people were briefly arrested but were later released.
Police believe the fatal shot came from the roof of UVU’s Losee Center, and CCTV and social media footage are under review. A large manhunt is under way, with the campus on lockdown.
Kirk’s shooting drew global condemnation, with leaders denouncing politically-motivated violence. President Trump called it “a dark moment for America,” hailing Kirk as a “martyr for truth.”
Prime ministers Mark Carney of Canada, Keir Starmer (UK), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), and Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel) also sent condolences, stressing the need to protect democratic values and—like Kirk himself— free debate.
