UPDATE: Trump Says Charlie Kirk Died after Utah Campus Shooting. Suspect Still not Caught

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who built Turning Point USA into a powerhouse on college campuses, died Wednesday after being shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem. President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, calling him “a great, and even legendary” figure in the movement he helped energize.

Kirk, 31, was on the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour” when a single shot rang out as he sat answering audience questions. Video from the scene shows him recoil, clutching his neck as the crowd screamed and scattered. His security team rushed him into an SUV; he later succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities spent the evening combing the UVU campus building-by-building and escorting students out under shelter-in-place orders. Despite an initial university alert saying a person was detained, a UVU spokesperson later clarified no suspect was in custody. A law-enforcement official said no weapon had been recovered as of Wednesday night; US Marshals were on standby for a wider manhunt. Classes were canceled and roads to campus closed while tactical teams swept nearby buildings.

Reactions poured in within minutes. Trump ordered US flags lowered to half-staff and praised Kirk’s bond with younger voters. From the right, figures like Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson and Ben Shapiro asked supporters to pray for Kirk’s family. From the left, leaders including former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Rep. Gabby Giffords condemned the attack and urged Americans to reject political violence in every form.

Witnesses say Kirk was taking audience questions about mass shootings when the shot was fired from roughly 200 feet away near UVU’s Losee Center. Attendees described minimal screening to get into the outdoor venue—no metal detectors, no bag checks, and in some cases tickets weren’t scanned—despite the large crowd. Investigators have not discussed a motive.

As Trump remade the GOP, Kirk became one of its most visible young organizers, marrying online reach with on-campus activism. He co-founded Turning Point USA at 18, grew it into a national brand, and, in 2024, helped mobilize younger voters Trump later credited with his return to the White House. Kirk also hosted a popular podcast and ran Turning Point Action, a political arm focused on turnout.

Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children.

What we know right now

• Victim: Charlie Kirk, 31, conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder.
• Incident: Shot once during a campus event at UVU; died of his injuries.
• Suspect: Not in custody as of Wednesday night; weapon not recovered.
• Response: UVU locked down; FBI and ATF assisting local police; US Marshals on standby.
• National reaction: Flags at half-staff; bipartisan condemnations of political violence.

This story is developing. Authorities are asking anyone with video or information from the area around UVU’s Sorensen Center courtyard to contact local police.

With input from AP and CNN.