On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. The incident occurred around 12:20 p.m. local time, approximately 20 minutes into his speech, which was part of his “American Comeback Tour.” The event was attended by approximately 3,000 people (AP News).
According to eyewitnesses, the shooting took place while Kirk was engaged in a Q&A session discussing mass shootings. A student had asked, “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” Kirk’s last words before being shot were his reply, “Including or not including gang violence?” He was then struck in the neck by a single bullet (Wikipedia).
The shot is believed to have come from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away. Authorities recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle from a wooded area near the shooting site (PBS). A suspect, described as an older man wearing a blue shirt, was initially taken into custody but was later released without charges (Reuters). The FBI and other federal agencies are involved in the ongoing investigation (AP News).
Following the shooting, political leaders from both major parties condemned the violence. Former President Donald Trump hailed Kirk as a martyr and ordered national flags to be lowered to half-staff. Other political figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also offered well-wishes and denounced political violence (AP News).
The incident has sparked widespread concern and debate about political violence and the safety of public figures. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have called on the public for information to help identify the perpetrator.
