Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, organizers and law enforcement said. The shooting occurred on Sept. 10 during the first stop of Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour,” and eyewitness video from the scene showed the moment a loud crack rang out and Kirk collapsed as the crowd fled. Kirk was struck in the neck and later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to multiple news organizations and a statement from his organization.
Authorities believe the shot was fired from a distance, possibly from a nearby rooftop or from a building across the venue; investigators later said they had located a bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the killing and found evidence consistent with a long-range attack. Law enforcement and federal agents were combing the surrounding area as part of an active investigation.
Initial statements from different officials were inconsistent about whether a suspect had been detained. Early reports and some officials suggested a person was in custody; by the following day police clarified that no suspect remained in custody and that two people briefly detained had been released as the search continued. Authorities warned the public the investigation was active and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Kirk was a polarizing and prominent face of 21st-century conservative organizing. He founded Turning Point USA in 2012, built a massive social-media profile and became a leading voice in mobilizing young conservatives and supporting former President Donald Trump. He often blended evangelical Christian rhetoric with combative nationalist politics, opposing abortion and advocating robust Second Amendment protections, views that made him a hero to many on the right and a target of intense criticism from the left.
Reaction to Kirk’s death was immediate and bipartisan in tone, if not in content. President Trump called Kirk “legendary” and urged prayers; Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the killing as a “political assassination.” Leaders from both parties condemned political violence and urged restraint while investigators worked to find the shooter. Vigils were held on and off campus, and Turning Point USA issued a statement asking for prayers for Kirk’s family and for patience as authorities pursued the case.
Kirk is survived by his wife, podcaster Erika Frantzve, and their two children, family and group statements confirmed. Turning Point USA and several media profiles noted his role in remaking youth outreach for the conservative movement and his influence on recent campaigns.
Questions about event security and the vulnerability of public figures at campus gatherings have already surfaced. Witnesses described chaotic scenes with students and attendees running for cover; some accounts and security analysts said Kirk’s setup left him exposed to a long-range attacker. Former law-enforcement and Secret Service officials interviewed by broadcasters argued that outdoor tabling events present unique and difficult protective challenges, especially when a speaker engages directly with a crowd. Officials said they would evaluate security protocols at similar events nationwide.
Federal agencies including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined local authorities in the investigation, officials said. Investigators described the attack as appearing targeted; they were tracing ballistic and surveillance evidence and canvassing witnesses and nearby buildings to reconstruct the shooter’s path. Law enforcement also asked members of the public to avoid spreading graphic video and to share any footage or tips directly with investigators.
The killing has intensified already heated debates over political rhetoric, campus activism and public-figure security. Supporters mourned a figure they credited with energizing young conservatives; critics cautioned against politicizing the death before investigators establish motive and cautioned that inflammatory rhetoric contributes to a toxic environment. For now, police say the investigation is ongoing and have appealed to anyone with information to contact local authorities.
