Charlie Kirk Assassination: FBI arrests Tyler Robinson as Charlie Kirk murder suspect

In a post on Saturday, Erika Kirk shared a carousel of family snapshots alongside pictures from Charlie’s funeral. “The world is evil. But our Savior, our Lord, our God… He is so good,” she wrote. “I will never have the words. Ever. The sound of this widow weeping echoes throughout this world like a battle cry.”

She vowed to carry on the work her husband began. “If they thought my husband’s mission was big now… you have no idea. You will never, ever forget my husband @charliekirk1776. I’ll make sure of it,” Erika added.

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, expressed her gratitude to law enforcement for arresting the suspect behind her husband’s killing. She said authorities “worked tirelessly to capture my husband’s assassin so that he can be brought to justice.”

The 36-year-old thanked President Donald Trump and his family, saying, “My husband loved you,” and also thanked Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, for their support in bringing Charlie’s body home to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two. Erika extended her gratitude to the Turning Point USA staff, including Chief of Staff Michael McCoy, for their support during this difficult time.

Robinson’s mother posted about his 4.0 GPA in middle school and college-level classes in high school. “My brain hurts for him, but he’s so excited!” she wrote about his senior year. Former classmates described him as respectful, hardworking, and smart, the kind of student people would pick for group projects, even if not friends.

Jadia Funk revealed that Robinson was very much into computers. “The way he carries himself and speaks to others. I thought he’d be a CEO or a businessman. He had good leadership qualities.” In 2021, he received a presidential scholarship to Utah State University but attended only one semester. At the time of the shooting, he lived in a St. George apartment with one roommate. 

Neighbours described him as a private, rarely seen outside type of person.

Speaking to The New York Times, Robinson’s neighbours and classmates described him as a “reserved, intelligent young man” who loved video games, comic books, and keeping up with current events.  In high school, he earned excellent grades, scored well on standardised tests, and in 2021 received a four-year merit scholarship to Utah State University.

Tyler allegedly confessed to his father that he was the shooter. The family’s social media depicts a seemingly normal life, showing Tyler with his two younger brothers on vacations and celebrating milestones, including his college acceptance. He lives in a six-bedroom home valued at around $600,000 in Washington, Utah, roughly 260 miles south of Orem, where Charlie Kirk was killed.

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The suspect was seen arriving on campus in a Dodge Challenger, dressed in a plain maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light-colored shoes. Officials said he blended in with students because of his college-age appearance. When investigators approached him later, he was wearing attire “consistent” with what was captured on the footage.

According to the Utah Gov. Cox, the family member recalled a dinner conversation before September 10 in which Robinson brought up Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University. During that exchange, another family member allegedly remarked that Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate.”

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Announcing his arrest, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel expressed confidence that they have a water-tight case against Robinson after the high-profile political assassination

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Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking in a press conference, confirmed on Friday that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been taken into custody. “We got him. On the evening of September 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident,” Cox said during the news conference alongside FBI Chief Kash Patel.

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Tyler Robinson, the suspect, had earlier expressed to family his opposition to the viewpoints of Charlie Kirk and most probably acted alone

Governor Spencer Cox spoke about the importance of free speech and condemned political violence. He said, “Over the last 48 hours, I have been as angry as I have ever been.”

One of the unfired casings was adorned with the words “Bella ciao”. That’s an apparent reference to an Italian song adopted by the anti-fascist resistance during World War II.

Extensive evidence has been recovered that ties the suspect in custody to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, including statements to relatives suggesting that he committed the crime, social media messages and physical evidence.

There were engravings on unfired ammunition left with the gun that officials believe was used in the shooting, Governor Spencer Cox of Utah confirmed while addressing a conference. He said, one of them read, “Hey fascist! Catch!” adding that another read, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO,” an acronym for “laughing my ass off.”

As per video surveillance footage from Utah Valley University, Tyler Robinson, a suspect of shooting Charlie Kirk arrived near the campus in a Dodge Challenger on Wednesday morning, about four hours before the attack.

Tyler Robinson, the suspect, contacted a family friend after the shooting and the friend then contacted the sheriff’s office and mentioned that Robinson has confessed the killing.

The suspect is currently under custody and being questioned by law enforcement as part of the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s shooting. He was taken into custody near Zion National Park which is 250 miles southwest of the campus where Kirk was killed

US President Donald Trump shares a photo of him with Charlie Kirk after the FBI caught the suspect

Utah's governor says assassination suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Charlie Kirk's beliefs.

Suspect's father saw surveillance photos and worked with pastor to encourage surrender in Kirk's killing - AP.

The messages from the Discord account "Tyler" mentioned the retrieval of a rifle from a drop point and then leaving it in a bush. Tyler also mentioned he had changed outfits in the messages

Robinson's roommate showed the FBI messages between him and an account named Tyler on Discord, a messaging app.

Engraved texts Robinson wrote messages on discord about rifle and engraving bullets

Tyler Robinson reached out to a friend confessing to assassinating Charlie Kirk

The suspect arrested and accused of killing Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, 22. He is from Utah -- NBC

US President Donald Trump said Friday “with a high degree of certainty” that the suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been caught, adding that someone “very close to him turned him in.” Trump in an interview with Fox news on Friday said: “I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him — in custody … everyone did a great job we worked with the local police, the governor, everybody did a great job.”

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While speaking to Fox News on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said law enforcement had caught the suspect and hoped that got death penalty. He also disclosed that some close to the suspect turned him in. - Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said law enforcement had taken a suspect into custody in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university. "I think we have him," Trump told Fox News in an interview, adding that a person who knows the suspect had turned him in. - Reuters

People gather during a vigil for US right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in the US, in Sydney, Australia — Photos by Reuters

Vigils for Charlie Kirk were held across the country on Thursday. (Reuters Photo)

Last night at their game, Yankees held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk.

Utah governor Spencer Cox said,"We cannot do our job without the public's help right now. The FBI hasn't received this many digital media tips from the public since the Boston Marathon bombing." "

New FBI video shows the alleged suspect running on the roof of a building after the shooting, then hanging from the building and dropping down into the grass.

The gunman then walks casually toward a street at the edge of campus.

Charlie Kirk's casket to be flown from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two. - AP

The FBI offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person or people responsible in the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

FBI seeks public help in identifying person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Kirk.

Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State warned foreigners who are glorifying Kirk's shooting and hatred are not welcome visitors to the US.

Investigators found ammunition engraved with expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology inside the rifle that authorities believe was used to shoot and kill U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing a person familiar with the investigation and an internal law enforcement bulletin. The newspaper reported that the rifle had three unfired rounds in its magazine, all with the engraved wording on them. - Reuters

US President Donald Trump announced he'll posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (AP)

Addressing the press, FBI said that they are working alongside our local and state law enforcement partners in Utah to fully investigate and seek justice in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. They have urged people to come forward with any information, photos, and video from the incident that can help the FBI

Born in 1993 in suburban Chicago, Kirk grew up during the Obama years but rejected the progressive enthusiasm of his generation. He rose with the Tea Party wave and dropped out of Harper College, later making his decision a point of pride. “If you want to stand out, don’t go to college,” he once told rally-goers. “It worked for me.” By his twenties, Kirk had founded Turning Point USA, a student-focused conservative organisation that expanded rapidly. With its provocative campus campaigns and flashy conferences, it provided Trump’s movement with a younger base and an incubator of conservative talent. Trump’s admiration for Kirk ran deep, in part because Kirk was one of the few in the conservative establishment who stood by him after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. That loyalty was rewarded: Kirk became a fixture at the White House, telling the Times he had visited “more than 100 times” during Trump’s first term.

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Investigators in Utah have recovered the weapon that was used to kill conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI official Robert Bohls said on Thursday, describing it as a high-powered rifle that was found in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. - Reuters

Utah Department of Public Safety officials said they have been able to track the movements of the shooter, revealing that the individual moved across a roof to reach the shooting location before fleeing into a nearby neighbourhood. Authorities added that they have obtained clear video footage of the suspect and are following every possible lead. “We are exhausting every lead and we will catch this individual,” the department said, assuring the public that the manhunt remains a top priority.

Charlie Kirk, a MAGA firebrand and close Donald Trump ally assassinated in Utah on Wednesday, leaves behind his wife, former beauty queen Erika Frantzve, and their two young kids. Kirk married Erika in 2021. A former Miss Arizona, college basketball player, podcast host, and ministry leader, she brands herself a “multidimensional philanthropist.” Erika works as a real estate agent with The Corcoran Group in New York City and also founded a nonprofit called Everyday Heroes Like You, aimed at community empowerment. On her website, she describes herself as a “social entrepreneur, passionate ministry leader, and woman of deep faith whose life has been shaped by her global experiences and unwavering commitment to purpose.” The Turning Point USA founder was shot dead while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University during his American comeback tour, when a gunman opened fire. Kirk was rushed off stage by security and pronounced dead shortly after.

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The attack on Kirk comes amid a surge of politically motivated violence across the US. According to Reuters data, the country is experiencing its most sustained wave of such violence since the 1970s, with more than 300 incidents recorded since the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. In the first half of 2025 alone, there were about 150 politically linked attacks — nearly double last year’s pace.

Reactions poured in from across the political spectrum. Former president Barack Obama condemned political violence as “despicable,” while President Joe Biden insisted there was “no place in our country for this kind of violence.” Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, added: “Political violence of any kind and against any individual is unacceptable and completely incompatible with American values.”

The White House described Kirk as one of the most influential figures in the conservative youth movement, crediting him with mobilising support that helped Trump secure reelection. With his strong social media presence, podcasting platform, and Turning Point events, Kirk cultivated a devoted following while amplifying Trump’s agenda and engaging in culture-war debates over immigration, race, and gender. Wednesday’s Utah event had been billed as the opening of his “American Comeback Tour.”

President Trump, speaking in a video address from the Oval Office, vowed retribution. “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organisations that fund it and support it,” he declared. The President ordered flags lowered to half-mast through Sunday. He blamed “radical left political violence” for Kirk’s death, saying: “Violence and murder are the tragic consequences of demonising those you disagree with … For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.”

In a statement, Utah governor Spencer Cox called the killing a “political assassination,” even as the shooter’s motive remained unclear. “This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” Cox said, urging an end to political violence. Faculty members at UVU echoed his call. “We won’t minimise actions like this around the world, ever,” said professor Greg Cronin. “But we can minimise the impact that they are allowed to have.”

Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was struck while addressing an audience of about 3,000 people. Video clips circulating online showed Kirk being questioned about gun violence moments before the sound of gunfire sent students running for safety. He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Charlie Kirk was a major role model and hero for me,” said 19-year-old attendee Ammon Paxton, who claimed he was standing directly in front of Kirk when he collapsed, The Guardian reported.

Authorities in the United States are still searching on Thursday for the suspect who fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University, in what officials described as a “targeted attack.”

The Utah department of public safety said the case remained an “active investigation,” with support from the FBI and local police. Two suspects were initially detained but later released.

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Authorities searched on Thursday for a sniper who assassinated Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, with one bullet and then slipped away amid the mayhem resulting from the latest act of political violence to befall America. Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking on Wednesday. As the search stretched into a second day, they provided little information about the shooter’s identity, motive, location or evidence and were reviewing grainy security videos of a mysterious person in dark clothing.“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. "I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.” Two people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said. The circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to an escalating threat of political violence in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. - PTI

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of Trump, died Wednesday after being shot at a Utah college event. Kirk was giving a presentation when shots were fired, reportedly hitting on his neck.

In the week before his fatal shooting, right-wing U.S. political activist Charlie Kirk cheered the boom of conservative young men in South Korea and warned about a “globalist menace” in Tokyo on his first speaking tour of Asia. Kirk helped amplify Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda to young voters with often inflammatory rhetoric focused on issues such as gender and immigration.

In Seoul on Friday, he spoke about how he “brought Trump to victory”, while addressing Build Up Korea 2025, a conservative conference that has previously featured speakers including Donald Trump Jr.

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Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis has chimed in with his opinion and questioned the law of Americans to have guns after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. “RIP Charlie Kirk. I’ll never understand America and why everyone can just have a gun,” Du Plessis wrote on X.

The founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk’s death has jolted the US political scene. More than just a right-wing influencer, he was known for liberal campuses’ “Prove me wrong” debates on abortion, transgender rights, and race theory.

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“When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group,” says Charlie Kirk in a video clip, one of many showing up on our social media feeds today. It seems profoundly poignant now. The most brutal, frightening clips of his murder are also beginning to appear. One moment, he is about to speak. The next, instead of a word, instead of what probably began as a pause, a moment of silence to listen to his interlocutor’s response, is his fall. Then, a split-second later, the cracking sound of the gun.

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Police and federal agents launched a manhunt on Thursday for the sniper who fired the single shot that killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he answered a question on gun violence during a university event. Kirk, 31, a podcast-radio commentator and close ally of Donald Trump, was credited with helping build the Republican president’s base among younger voters. He was gunned down on Wednesday in what Utah Governor Spencer Cox called a political assassination.

The shooting happened before 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles (65 km) south of Salt Lake City. Video showed blood gushing from Kirk’s neck as he slumped in his chair. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. His killing prompted condemnation of political violence from both Republicans and Democrats. “This is a horrible accident,” Cox said, calling Kirk’s appearances on campuses part of a tradition of debate “foundational to the formation of our country, to our most basic constitutional rights.” He warned: “When someone takes the life of a person because of their ideas or their ideals, then that very constitutional foundation is threatened.”

Authorities believe the gunman fired from a rooftop sniper’s nest on the Utah campus. The suspect, dressed in dark clothing, remains at large, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said. By Wednesday night, police confirmed they had no suspects in custody. State police said two men were detained earlier, but both were released. “There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals,” officials said. One of the men detained, an older political “gadfly,” was charged with obstruction by university police, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The other was initially described as a “person of interest” but later cleared.

Police said they were investigating “multiple active crime scenes” linked to where Kirk was shot and other locations he and the suspect had travelled. Kirk, who had just returned from a speaking tour in South Korea and Japan, was launching a 15-event “American Comeback Tour” of U.S. campuses. Known for provocative views on race, gender, immigration and firearms, he often invited audiences to debate him. At the moment he was shot, Kirk was answering a question about gun violence.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Officials investigating the fatal shooting on Wednesday of conservative activist Charlie Kirk gave conflicting accounts as to whether the suspected shooter was in custody, with FBI Director Kash Patel saying a subject was in custody and local police officials saying the shooter was at large.

Patel said on X that "the subject" was in custody. Shortly after that, Beau Mason, the head of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said the suspect was still at large. “While the suspect is at large we believe this was a targeted attack,” he said.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said a "person of interest" was in custody.

(Reuters)

They were careful with explicit imagery, as usual. But did it make any difference?

Traditional news outlets avoided showing the moment Charlie Kirk was shot on Wednesday, instead airing video of him tossing a hat to the crowd beforehand or panicked onlookers fleeing afterwards. In practice, it mattered little. Graphic footage spread almost instantly online, from multiple angles, in real time and slow motion. Millions watched on X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube — and even Truth Social, where Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death.

Kirk was shot at a Utah college event before hundreds of people, many holding up phones. Clips showed the exact moment of the shooting: one looped in slow motion, another caught the audio of Kirk apparently speaking about gun violence as he was struck. For more than 150 years, legacy outlets have acted as “gatekeepers” of violent content. But in the age of smartphones and instant uploads, their editorial restraint has far less impact.

In Ithaca, New York, college professor Sarah Kreps’ teenage sons texted her about the killing after school. She told them Kirk had been shot but there were no reports of his death. Her son replied: “Have you seen the video? There’s no way he could have survived that.” Clips spread at lightning speed. Some users pleaded for restraint. “For the love of God and Charlie’s family,” read one post, “just stop.” Others reposted the footage while urging “stop the violence.”

YouTube said it was removing “some graphic content” without context and restricting others for users under 18. “Our hearts are with Charlie Kirk's family following his tragic death,” it said. Meta applied warning labels but did not block such posts, referring to its policies on violent content. An X spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

The issue is not new. Facebook faced backlash in 2019 when people attempted to livestream a mass shooting in New Zealand, Kreps noted. Some images seeped into mainstream media. TMZ posted a video of Kirk with his upper body blurred. The New York Post did the same. Editors say restraint still matters. Viewers may choose to click on disturbing images online, but stumbling across them without warning is different. “The traditional media can amplify and validate behavior,” Kreps said. “It can be a signal for how things should be stigmatised, rather than validated or normalised.”

(With inputs from AP)

(Read full report here)

In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be lowered to half-mast. He wrote, "In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 pm."

Charlie Kirk, CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities said the shooter fired from a roof during a debate hosted by the group. Videos posted online show Kirk holding a handheld microphone under a white tent when a single shot rang out. He clutched his neck as blood poured from the left side. The university, Utah’s largest public institution with 47,000 students, was evacuated and classes were cancelled.

Utah Gov Spencer Cox called the killing a “political assassination.” Beau Mason, commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety, said the shooter appeared to act alone and targeted Kirk. A “person of interest” was taken into custody but later released. Another man, George Zinn, was briefly jailed on allegations of obstructing justice, though officials said he was not the suspect.

Kirk co-founded Turning Point in suburban Chicago in 2012 at age 18 with William Montgomery, promoting low taxes and limited government on campuses. The group gained prominence after enthusiastically backing Donald Trump in 2016. Kirk served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the campaign and became a regular voice on cable TV. Turning Point’s fundraising grew rapidly, reaching $79.2 million in 2022. The organisation now claims a presence on nearly 4,000 campuses and has built a network of conservative influencers. Kirk was known for provocative remarks. In a 2024 podcast he said, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’” He opposed Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, calling it “anti-American” and part of “a neo-segregationist view.”

Tributes and condemnation followed swiftly. Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff, calling Kirk a “great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” on Truth Social. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who had hosted Kirk on his podcast, called the shooting “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”

(With inputs from AP)

Utah Valley University, where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday, is the state’s largest public university after rapid enrollment growth but remains lesser known than other colleges in Utah. Founded in 1941 as a vocational school for war production training, it began offering four-year degrees in the 1990s, driving a fivefold increase in enrollment. The school now has nearly 47,000 students, according to its website.

Nearly nine in 10 are from Utah, and 18% are 25 or older. Business and psychology are among the most popular majors. The campus in Orem is about 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of Salt Lake City and close to Brigham Young University, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Utah is one of 14 states that permit some level of concealed carry of firearms on public college campuses. FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media a “subject” had been taken into custody, but later clarified the person was released after questioning.

Officials confirmed a person of interest was in custody but gave no details on whether the weapon was carried legally. The Utah Valley Wolverines compete in several sports, including men’s and women’s basketball in the Western Athletic Conference.

(AP)

The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event has drawn reactions from leaders who have themselves survived political violence or seen family members targeted. Kirk, 31, was cofounder and chief executive of the youth group Turning Point USA and often appeared on college campuses to engage students in political dialogue. Here are the politicians that have reacted, who have also faced violence.

(AP)

Right-wing US activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a Utah university on Wednesday, a week after touring Asia to promote conservative causes. The 31-year-old had been a prominent supporter of Donald Trump. In Seoul on Friday, Kirk told a conservative conference he had “brought Trump to victory,” and praised a global trend of young men turning right-wing. “It is not unique to the US … That is why I chose South Korea as my first Asian destination,” he said.

He later travelled to Tokyo, where he spoke at a Sanseito party symposium. In an interview with a lawmaker posted on YouTube, Kirk warned of a “globalist menace” and said he hoped to “invigorate the people of your great nation.” Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya called him a “comrade” and said he was “stunned and heartbroken” by the news of his death.

On his podcast this week, Kirk said: “The same things we have been fighting for here – whether it be lawfare in South Korea or mass migration in Japan – this is a worldwide phenomenon.”

(With inputs from Reuters)

Kirk’s “Prove me wrong” debates often went viral on TikTok and Instagram reels. He challenged people on hot-button issues. He even sparred with top Democrats during the election season and became one of Donald Trump’s closest allies, pushing Republican campaigns.

In March, he was the first guest on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s podcast, where the two clashed over divisive issues.

While his loyalty to Trump peaked in 2024, it went back years, from Trump’s 2016 win to July 2019, when Kirk took over Students for Trump under Turning Point Action and launched a drive to recruit one million students for Trump’s reelection.

He supported Trump through the 2020 election fraud claims and into Trump’s White House comeback. Along the way, he made headlines with controversial takes, dismissing the Russia-Ukraine war as a “border issue,” opposing gay marriage, rejecting diversity programs, and calling George Floyd a “scumbag.”

At a Turning Point USA event in Salt Lake City in April 2023, Kirk sparked outrage after admitting that having an armed society will always mean there are some gun deaths, but he called it a “rational” cost for keeping the Second Amendment alive.

He compared gun deaths to car accidents, saying just like we accept some deaths on the road to keep cars, society should accept some gun deaths to protect gun rights.

“I think it’s worth the cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year, so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe,” Kirk had said, according to Newsweek.

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah.

The attack took place around 1 pm while Kirk was speaking under a tent on the university campus during his American comeback tour. The shooter is still at large, and authorities are investigating.  

Emma Pitts, a reporter from Deseret News who was at the event, said Kirk had just begun answering the second question of the debate when a sound like a firecracker rang out.

But the moment the gunman opened fire, Pitts saw blood pouring from the left side of Kirk’s neck, and he started to limp. The crowd, estimated at about 3000 people, panicked instantly. “I heard first a sound. It sounded like a firecracker. And then I just saw so much blood come out of the left side of Charlie’s neck, and then he went limp. And at that point, we all hit the ground,” she told NPR.

US President Donald Trump in a video message on Thursday expressed “grief and anger” over the killing of his key aide Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and vowed that his administration would “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence”.

Trump, while speaking from the Oval Office, targeted the “radical left violence” suggesting that its rhetoric has contributed towards the assassination of Kirk in Utah.

The Republican leader recalled the assassination attempt against him in July last year and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. Trump said, “Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people.”

More than just a right-wing influencer, Trump's loyal aide was known for liberal campuses’ “Prove me wrong” debates on abortion, transgender rights, and race theory.

The 31-year-old Kirk, born in 1993, grew up in a wealthy Chicago suburb. His political run started early. Back in 2012, still a high school senior, he wrote a piece for Breitbart News accusing school textbooks of bias.

That landed him a spot on Fox Business. Even in school, he was active in politics, picking fights on issues as small as cafeteria prices.

By 2019, he launched The Charlie Kirk Show, which remains one of Apple’s most-watched.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead on Wednesday at a Utah University event. This marks as the latest act of political violence in the United States.

Kirk was giving a presentation when shots were fired, reportedly hitting on his neck.

According to his spokesperson, “to the best of our knowledge, he was hit and taken with his security team away from the premises.”