By Anas Abbas
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred during a “Prove Me Wrong” session, part of his “American Comeback Tour,”.
Eyewitnesses say the bullet struck Kirk in the neck as he addressed a student’s question, abruptly cutting short the debate and sending the crowd into chaos.
Video footage captures the moment, showing Kirk recoiling and collapsing, with attendees scattering in panic.
Authorities confirmed that the shot originated from the Losee Center, a campus building approximately 200 yards from the speaker’s platform.
Initial reports of a suspect in custody were later retracted, and the shooter remains at large.
President Donald Trump, unable to attend in person, took to Truth Social to confirm Kirk’s death, describing him as “legendary” and unmatched in his understanding of American youth.
He offered condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family, and ordered American flags nationwide to be flown at half-mast.
Political figures across the spectrum condemned the violence.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed accountability, while Republican and Democratic leaders alike decried the act and extended solidarity to Kirk’s family.
Kirk, 31, rose to prominence through Turning Point USA, a youth-focused conservative organization he helped establish in 2012.
He built a commanding media presence through his podcast and campus events, becoming a central figure in modern student political activism.