Conservative U.S. commentator Charlie Kirk has died after shooting at university event, Trump says

U.S. Chair Donald  ruff said on wed that U.S. Right-wing activistic and reviewer Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

"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," Trump said on Truth Social. 

Multiple media reports also say Kirk has died, and the New York Times said a spokesperson confirmed his death.

Kirk, 31, was an influential ally of Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA, the largest conservative youth organization in the country.

He was transported to a hospital and underwent surgery, according to a university spokesperson. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that he was in critical condition. 

Video of the incident circulating on social media showed Kirk addressing a large outdoor crowd when a loud crack that sounded like a gunshot rang out. Kirk can be seen briefly moving his hand to his neck as he falls off his chair, sending the attendees running.

In another clip, blood can be seen gushing from Kirk's neck immediately after the shot. Reuters has not confirmed the authenticity of the videos.

"A shot was fired from a nearby building," a university spokesperson told Reuters in an email.

Local TV station KSL-TV aired video of an older man wearing a blue shirt being led away by police following the attack.

"We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," FBI Director Kash Patel said on X. "Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected."

Kirk, an activist and the founder of conservative student group Turning Point USA, played a key role in driving youth support for Trump last November. His events at college campuses nationwide typically draw large crowds.

"WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour," Kirk had written on X ahead of the event.

Kirk has been an effective voice for the conservative movement. He has 5.2 million followers on X and hosts a popular podcast and radio program, The Charlie Kirk Show. He has also recently co-hosted Fox & Friends on Fox News.

Trump called for prayers following the shooting: "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom," he posted on Truth Social.

Both Republican and Democratic politicians expressed support for Kirk following the shooting.

"Political violence is NEVER acceptable," Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, said on X. "My thoughts and prayers are with Charlie Kirk and his family."

Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre also responded on social media, writing on X, "We must all strongly denounce the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Political violence is NEVER justified."

Kirk's speaking event at Utah Valley University had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition urging university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. 

Kirk was sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans, "The American Comeback" and "Prove Me Wrong," and addressing a crowd at the Sorensen Center courtyard when the shot was fired. 

"As soon as I saw Charlie go back, you realize that it was a shot," Jason Chaffetz, a former U.S. Representative for Utah's third congressional district, told The Associated Press. "It wasn't as if there was a whole bunch of gunfire. It was one shot."

The crowd scattered in the wake of the shooting. Police have since cordoned off the scene.

While the motive for the shooting is unknown, the United States is undergoing its most sustained period of political violence since the 1970s. Reuters has documented more than 300 cases of politically motivated violent acts since Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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