Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has died at the age of 31 after being shot during a live event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports.
Video showed the gunfire eruping during Kirk’s American Comeback Tour stop, striking him in the neck as he was addressing the audience. The packed crowd scrambled for safety as security teams rushed the stage. Emergency responders transported Kirk to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The incident threw the campus into chaos as police locked down the surrounding area. Officials have not yet confirmed whether a suspect is in custody.
Former President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death in a statement on X, praising him as a powerful voice for America’s youth:
“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!”
Kirk rose to prominence as one of the nation’s most visible conservative activists, founding Turning Point USA in 2012 and growing it into a national network of campus chapters, conferences, and media platforms. He was known for mobilizing young conservatives, as well as his syndicated show, and frequently appeared as a commentator on television.
Utah Valley University said in a statement that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement and extended condolences to Kirk’s family and supporters.
