Conservative activist and close President Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk has
died after being shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on
Wednesday. He was 31 years old.
Kirk was addressing students as part of his American
Comeback Tour when a single gunshot rang out at 12:20 p.m. local time.
Video circulating online shows him sitting under a white
gazebo, responding to a question about mass shootings, when he was struck in
the neck.
He immediately collapsed as blood became visible on his
shirt.
The crowd screamed in panic, rushing for safety as security scrambled to his aid.
Police later confirmed that a suspect is in custody and
that the shot was fired from about 200 yards away (182m).
The campus was placed on lockdown and subsequently closed
for the rest of the day. Authorities have not released details about the
shooter or a possible motive.
For several hours, Kirk was reported to be in critical
condition.
Late Wednesday night, however, President Donald Trump
announced his death in a statement that hailed Kirk as a tireless voice for
America’s youth.
“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. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now,
he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife
Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” — Donald Trump, US President.
Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth organization
Turning Point USA, was one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders and a fixture on
the Republican campaign trail.
His death is a major blow to the conservative movement,
where he was seen as a rising star with a strong following among young voters.
Law enforcement officials have promised further updates as
investigations continue.
For now, questions remain over the identity of the suspect,
the motive for the shooting, and how such an attack could unfold in broad
daylight at a university campus.
