Charlie Kirk Is Dead After Utah Valley University Shooting

Charlie Kirk, the right-wing net characteristic and cofounder of Turning Point USA, was changeable connected Wednesday day astatine Utah Valley University (UVU), wherever he was a featured speaker astatine an event. He later died from his injuries, according to Kirk’s spokesperson.

“The Great, and moreover Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Donald Trump said successful a post connected Truth Social. “No 1 understood aliases had nan Heart of nan Youth successful nan United States of America amended than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he is nary longer pinch us. Melania and my Sympathies spell retired to his beautiful woman Erika, and family. Charlie, we emotion you!”

Trump later added successful a post connected Truth Social that, “in grant of Charlie Kirk,” he had ordered “all American flags passim nan United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening astatine 6 pm.”

After Kirk was shot, UVU instantly went into lockdown, according to Deseret News. UVU field constabulary initially detained a man they identified arsenic a suspect. However, that personification was not nan shooter, rule enforcement officials said astatine a property convention connected Wednesday evening. The man was charged pinch obstruction of justice.

During nan property conference, rule enforcement officials said they person a “person of interest” successful custody, who is undergoing questioning. They added that they judge nan attacker was located connected apical of a building connected nan UVU field erstwhile they fired nan changeable that struck Kirk. Campus CCTV footage captured a personification wearing achromatic clothing successful nan vicinity, they said. Prior to those updates, FBI head Kash Patel posted on X that “the taxable for nan horrific shooting coming that took nan life of Charlie Kirk is now successful custody.”

UVU constabulary did not reply a telephone from WIRED. A TPUSA spokesperson did not instantly respond to WIRED’s petition for comment. The White House did not instantly respond to WIRED’s petition for comment.

“Eternal remainder unto him, O Lord,” Vice President JD Vance posted connected X pursuing Kirk’s death.

Videos of nan shooting began circulating connected societal media Wednesday afternoon, soon aft first reports of nan incident emerged. The footage shows Kirk seated outdoors beneath a achromatic tent. A gunshot rings out, and a coiled abruptly appears connected nan near broadside of his neck, according to aggregate videos of nan incident reviewed by WIRED. He appears to suffer a important magnitude of humor arsenic he slumps to nan side, yet collapsing from his chair. Chaos ripples done nan crowd arsenic nan attendees commencement to scatter.

“After everyone realized location was a shot, location were screams and panicked students moving away,” a UVU student told WIRED by matter message. The student, who asked not to beryllium named for fearfulness of retaliation, said they were “directly across” from Kirk connected a adjacent ledge erstwhile nan changeable was fired. The incident occurred astir 12:30 p.m. section time, they said.

Utah rule permits firearms to beryllium carried connected field truthful agelong arsenic nan individual has a valid licence and keeps nan limb concealed. Utah Valley University’s website says it abides by that standard, pointing to Utah Code 76-10-505.5, which bars firearms connected schoolhouse property, but exempts those authorized nether nan state’s concealed limb law.

Kirk’s extremity successful Utah was portion of TPUSA’s American Comeback Tour, wherever he staged his signature “prove maine wrong” debates connected campus. At Utah Valley University and Utah State University, nan events sparked intense backlash: More than 6,000 students and module signed petitions urging Utah State administrators to cancel Kirk’s quality later this month, arguing his beingness would conflict pinch field commitments to inclusivity. Critics described nan circuit arsenic a “campus martyr” strategy designed to make viral contented whether done protests aliases cancellations.

Kirk, 31, formed nan appearances arsenic a defense of free reside and a chance to beforehand his marque of Christian nationalist conservatism.

Turning Point USA, which began successful 2012 arsenic a student group, has grown into a well-funded hub of right-wing activism. Along pinch its governmental defense arm, Turning Point Action, nan statement has go a cardinal subordinate successful nan MAGA movement, channeling millions of dollars into “chase nan vote” campaigns backed by election-denying candidates.

Additional reporting by Makena Kelly, Jake Lahut, Caroline Haskins, and Vittoria Elliott.