Charlie Kirk shot at Utah college event
Charlie Kirk, the conservative firebrand and founder of Turning Point USA, has been shot at a Utah Valley University event in Orem, Utah.
Graphic video posted to social media shows Kirk on stage, sitting in a chair, talking into a microphone. A single gunshot was heard and Kirk’s head thrust back as he fell. People started screaming and running away, the video shows.
Kirk was on campus for the first stop of his American Comeback Tour.
Charlie Kirk shot
What we know:
According to the university, shots were fired from a nearby building around 1:20 p.m. local time, about 20 minutes after he started speaking.
“We believe that he was shot,” the university told FOX TV Stations.
A suspect is in custody, according to the school, and campus has been closed for the remainder of the day.
FILE – Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the back of the room as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Kirk had posted on X earlier showing photos and videos of the crowd before the event started, but the post has since been deleted.
What we don’t know:
Kirk’s condition is not yet known.
What they’re saying:
President Donald Trump responded to the shooting on his Truth Social account.
“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump wrote.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is monitoring reports of the shooting.
Vice President JD Vance asked for people to pray for Kirk.
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah posted on X that he is “tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely.”
“Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there,” he said.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
According to Kirk’s Linkedin account, Kirk is the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a national student conservative organization.
He has appeared alongside Trump on stage at political events, and is also a frequent commentator on Fox News, CNBC, and FOX Business News. He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Source: This report includes information from Utah Valley University, and the social media accounts of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. Mike Lee.