OREM, Utah —President Trump announced on social media that Charlie Kirk had died after being shot in the neck at an event in Utah.
“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. 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, a conservative activist, was shot at an event at Utah Valley University earlier today, in Orem, Utah.
The suspect in the shooting is not yet in custody, according to a spokesperson from Utah Valley University, despite the school saying earlier that police did have someone in custody.
The shooting was reported on the scanner at 12:26 p.m. MST.
Here’s what was heard on the scanner as reported by CNN:
“UVU (Utah Valley University) by the sound reported one individual that was shot. Unknown where the shooter went,” one official said.
“Let’s be advised, UVU in Orem has an active shooter at the Charlie Kirk event. We’re getting several calls. We’re trying to get more information,” the official continued.
“Are they requesting help?” another official asked.
“We’re not sure yet. We’re just trying to get units that way,” the first official responded.
According to reports, a shot was fired from a campus building approximately 200 yards away while Kirk was speaking at an event hosted by a student group.
One video appeared to show Kirk’s head jerking back as blood poured from his neck. He was delivering remarks while sitting under a tent with the slogan “The American Comeback” printed on it.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18 and has since become a prominent figure in conservative media. Turning Point USA is a sprawling right-wing political organization with more than 850 campus chapters. The group sends conservative speakers to college campuses and hosts conferences that convene thousands of young people for right-wing discussions of political issues like economics, race, and immigration.
