OREM, UT — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, has died after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon.
Trump announced the death in a social media post:
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!
A single shot was fired on the Orem campus toward Kirk, a visiting speaker, shortly after noon, the school said.
"He was hit and taken from the location by his security," the university said. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Watch as officials provided an update after the deadly shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University:
FBI Director Kash Patel initially said a person was taken into custody for the shooting, but later issued another statement saying that that person was released.
Patel said the person was released after an interrogation by law enforcement.
The search for the shooter remains underway.
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 https://t.co/YXsG6YpFR5
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 10, 2025
Immediately following the shooting, authorities took a person into custody. It was later determined that the person was not the suspect, but has now been arrested for obstruction of justice. Details on those charges haven't been provided.
Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot on Wednesday at an event at a Utah college, Turning Point said.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in Phoenix, where it is headquartered.
"This is an ongoing situation. We can confirm that Charlie Kirk has been shot. He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time," according to a statement from Turning Point USA representatives.
Kirk was attending an event at Utah Valley University.
School officials tell Scripps News Salt Lake City that gunshots were fired from the top of a building on campus, approximately 200 yards from where Kirk was speaking from under a tent.
The shooting occurred about 20 minutes after Kirk began speaking, at roughly 12:10 local time. Kirk "was hit and taken from the location by his security," Utah Valley University said in a statement.
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz told Fox News on Wednesday that Kirk was answering a question about transgender mass shooters when the shooting occurred.
President Donald Trump reacted to the shooting, writing, "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!"
Kirk held many events in Arizona during the 2024 presidential election race, as he campaigned for President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
A Turning Point USA event was scheduled for later on Wednesday night at Arizona State University, but due to Wednesday afternoon's shooting, it has been cancelled.
Kirk was scheduled to attend the organization's annual AmeriFest event in Phoenix in December.
Utah's governor, Spencer Cox, issued the following statement on social media:
I am being briefed by law enforcement following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk during his visit to Utah Valley University today. We will continue to share updates.
— Governor Cox (@GovCox) September 10, 2025
Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life.
Americans of…
The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum.
The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania's governor, who is Jewish, in April.
The most notorious of these events is the shooting of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year.
Read more reactions from Arizona and National leaders here.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as soon as more information becomes available.
