REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribu
U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd shortly before he was shot at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025. Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via REUTERS
Charlie Kirk, a political figure well known for founding the right-wing youth activist group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed today while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was kicking off his The American Comeback Tour at his first stop of a 15-university tour. Just after noon Mountain Daylight Time, about 20 minutes into his speech, he was struck in his neck by a bullet. The moment was caught on film and widely shared across social media platforms.
Kirk’s Turning Point USA works to open chapters on college campuses-including Stan State, where the organization held a controversial rally titled “Exposing the Trans Agenda,” covered by the Signal at the time.
According to CNN, event attendee Raydon Dechene said there were no security measures in place to screen people. They noted that there were no metal detectors, no bag checks and no one collecting attendee tickets. CNN also reported that seconds before Kirk was shot, he was answering a question about mass shootings in the transgender community.
Ellen Treanor, a spokesperson for the university, told the New York Times that it is believed that the suspect fired at Kirk from a building called the Losee Center, about 200 yards away from where he was sitting under a tent for his speech.
Authorities are still searching for the shooter. The university is said to be working with four agencies to conduct the investigation: Orem Police, Utah Valley University Policy, The F.B.I. and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
“There is no suspect in custody, it is an active investigation,” Treanor said in a statement.
While initially the F.B.I. Director, Kash Patel, took to X to announce that the suspect who took Charlie Kirk’s life was in custody, Patel shortly afterward had to announce that the suspect in question had been released after interrogation by law enforcement.
Scott Trotter, another university spokesperson, told news organizations that at least 1,000 people were attending the event when Kirk was shot. The campus was closed after the shooting and will remain so until Sept. 15, according to the website of the UVU police department.
“We are shocked by the tragic events today,” reads a banner on the site. “This is an ongoing investigation. For more go to https://www.uvu.info/.”
With the announcement of his death, there have been both political adversaries and companions voicing their remorse and sympathies for Kirk’s passing.
President Donald Trump was one of the first to comment.
“The great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead,” Trump posted on his Truth social media account.
President Trump also ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening in honor of Charlie Kirk.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris relayed her concern for not only Kirk but also for America.
“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence,” Harris posted on “X.”
Dean Withers, a young podcaster, debater and known adversary of Kirk, made a post on “X” addressing the event and what this means about gun violence.
“Charlie Kirk is dead. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, who were in attendance at the rally. This is sick, deplorable, and incredibly sad. If you do not condemn this, fuck you. If you want to end gun violence, you can never celebrate it,” Withers stated.
The current Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, expressed his disappointment and anger towards this act of political violence through an “X” post.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” Newsom wrote. “In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Although condolences are coming from both parties, some are finding it hard to express sympathy because of Kirk’s stance on 2nd Amendment rights.
“I think it’s worth to have a cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the 2nd Amendment to protect our other God given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational,” Kirk stated in front of a live audience in 2023.