U.S. Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at 31

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University. The 31 year old was addressing a group of approximately 3,000, when he was shot once in the neck by a single bullet.

Although Kirk was rushed to a local hospital, he died a short time afterward. The videos that were posted on the internet showed the instant he fell during an answer to a question of gun violence. Utah Governor Spencer Cox referred to the shooting as a political assassination.

At the young age of 18, Kirk began Turning Point USA in 2012 in Illinois. The organization became a strong conservative youth operation, which contributed to getting young voters to support President Donald Trump to win the 2024 election.

• Conservative Leader Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah Valley University
• Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at 31
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With his electric rallies that combined politics, nationalism and Christianity, Kirk had developed a huge following, with 5.3 million subscribers to his X account and more than 500,000 listeners to his radio show, The Charlie Kirk Show. He also authored books such as Time for a Turning Point and was a common guest on the conservative media.

The shooting comes amid a troubling rise in political violence in the U.S., including two assassination attempts on Trump in 2024 and attacks on Democratic leaders. Authorities have not yet apprehended a suspect, though a person of interest was briefly detained and released, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Utah’s Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the shot likely came from a rooftop, and the shooter remains at large.

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President Trump, a close friend of Kirk’s, shared his grief on Truth Social, calling him “legendary” and ordering U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama also condemned the violence, calling for unity. Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, and their two children. The tragedy has sparked renewed fears about the growing threat of political violence, with leaders urging an end to such acts.