Charlie Kirk, a prominent U.S. conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The attack has shocked the country, sparked tributes and anger across the political spectrum, and triggered a nationwide manhunt.
What happened?
Kirk was on stage for his “American Comeback Tour,” a series of campus speaking events, when the shooting occurred. Around 12:10pm local time (18:10 GMT), about 20 minutes into his appearance, he was taking questions at his signature “Prove Me Wrong” table.
Videos show Kirk debating a student about mass shootings and transgender people just moments before a shot rang out.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the student asked.
“Too many,” Kirk replied to applause.
When the student pressed further, Kirk answered: “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Seconds later, he was struck in the neck and collapsed from his chair as the crowd panicked.
Only one shot was fired, according to Utah Department of Public Safety chief Beau Mason. Kirk’s wife and children were in attendance. No other injuries were reported.
Where did it happen?
The bullet came from the roof of UVU’s Losee Center, a building 100–200 yards (90–180 metres) from the courtyard where Kirk was speaking. Officials have not said if the shot was fired from the roof itself or an open window.
UVU, located in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, has more than 46,000 enrolled students. The campus will remain closed until September 14.
What do we know about the shooter?
The suspect remains at large. Authorities say he appears to be of college age and was captured on security cameras arriving shortly before noon, entering stairwells, moving onto the roof, and fleeing into a nearby neighbourhood after the shooting.
A Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle believed to be the murder weapon was found in nearby woods. Inside the rifle were three unfired rounds engraved with phrases linked to transgender and antifascist ideology, according to law enforcement bulletins cited by the Wall Street Journal.
Footage released by the FBI shows a man in dark clothing, sunglasses, and a hat running across the rooftop. Officials have described the video as “good evidence” but have not confirmed the suspect’s identity.
Initial reports that two people were in custody proved inaccurate; both were later released without charges.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Kirk, 31, co-founded Turning Point USA at age 18, building it into the country’s largest conservative youth movement. He became a fixture in the “Make America Great Again” orbit, often seen as the face of the pro-Trump student movement.
He hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, reaching over half a million monthly listeners, and was a frequent guest on Fox News. With 5.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), Kirk wielded wide influence on the American right.
Trump credited him with helping bring young and minority voters to his side during the 2024 campaign. Though Kirk never sought government office, he made it clear his aim was to reshape U.S. politics and culture.
What were his views?
Kirk thrived in culture-war debates and often courted controversy:
- Gun rights: He argued that yearly gun deaths were an acceptable price for preserving the Second Amendment, and that schools should be protected by armed guards.
- Race: He criticised Black Lives Matter and claimed whites were more likely than Blacks to be attacked in the U.S.
- Islam: He once compared Prophet Muhammad to Jeffrey Epstein and said Islam conflicted with Western values.
- Israel and Gaza: He strongly backed Israel’s war on Gaza, dismissing Palestinian statehood claims.
- Abortion: He opposed abortion in nearly all cases, including pregnancies from rape.
These stances won him a devoted following among conservatives but also fierce criticism from opponents.
Reaction to his death
Public tributes: Vigils were held in Utah, Arizona, and Texas, with heavy police presence.
Donald Trump called it a “heinous assassination” and ordered flags at half-staff. He blamed the “radical left” for fueling hatred.
Democrats and Republicans alike condemned the killing, including former presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush.
Vice President JD Vance and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis demanded swift justice, with DeSantis calling for the death penalty.
World leaders from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to Russia’s Kirill Dmitriev also paid tribute.
What’s next?
The FBI is leading the investigation with state and local police. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest.
Officials say they are tracking “hundreds of leads” and continue to review video evidence. For now, the motive remains unclear, though investigators are studying the engravings on the rifle and the suspect’s movements before and after the attack.
