Conservative Commentator Charlie Kirk Murdered At University Event; Suspect In Custody
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. President Trump announced the death on Truth Social: "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.”
🚨 The FBI announced Wednesday evening: “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.”
A university spokesperson said the shooter fired from a campus building roughly 200 feet away from where Kirk was sitting. The weapon used to assassinate Kirk has also not been recovered.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vowed to work with the FBI and Utah law enforcement to “bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy."
WHAT WE KNOW
Horrific video — linked here, with a content warning ⚠️ — shows Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18, being struck by a single bullet in the neck during an outdoor Q&A session with students in front of a large crowd.
The event was part of the conservative youth organization’s Q&A format, where audience members could ask Kirk anything, and he would engage in discussion and debate with people in the crowd.
HIS LEGACY
Kirk was one of the most prominent conservative activists and a rising star in the party. He motivated hundreds of thousands of young conservatives and will be remembered for bringing open debate to college campuses.
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Charles Hurt praised Kirk — who has guest-hosted the show — and talked about how Kirk dropped out of college when he felt like it was more about “indoctrination” than education.
Hurt added that Kirk’s ability to engage young people as adults made him a powerful political force, arguing, "there's probably no person outside of President Trump himself who is more important in helping President Trump reach the people he needed to win reelection" in 2024 — a sentiment echoed by many in conservative circles.
PRAYERS FROM ACROSS PARTY LINES
Kirk is a close ally to President Trump, who survived his own assassination attempt in July 2024. Politicians across the political spectrum condemned the violence.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who interviewed Kirk for his inaugural podcast, posted on X: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), whose home was set on fire in April, said, “this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) posted on X: “Utterly devastating. Charlie was a close friend and confidant. He will be sorely missed by so many. Every political leader must loudly and clearly decry this violence.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said, “Charlie Kirk was a loving husband and father who inspired young people across America to get married, have children, end abortion, and live boldly for God.”
At the same time, the reaction online has been heated. Elon Musk posted: “The Left is the party of murder”
An attempt to hold a moment of silence on the House floor ended in clashes between Democrats and Republicans.
