Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump announced on social media.
The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead, the president wrote on Truth Social. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
Kirk, a fervent supporter of Trump and founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking when a shot rang out, causing panic among the audience. Videos confirmed by BBC show him jolting backward in his chair as chaos ensued.
A spokeswoman for Utah Valley University reported the gunfire originated from the Losee Center, approximately 200 yards away.
Another university spokesman stated, We can confirm that Mr. Kirk was shot, but we don't know his condition.
Footage circulating online shows Kirk prompting discussions around gun violence right before the shooting occurred.
Political leaders from across the spectrum condemned the attack, expressing their shock and calling for an end to political violence.
As the details of the tragedy unfolded, Kirk's supporters and political opponents alike mourned the loss of a prominent figure in the conservative movement.
