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The conservative activist became the face of a young Republican movement in the 2010s.
WASHINGTON — Right-wing activist and media personality Charlie Kirk has died after he was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, with video from the campus showing crowds of students running away after a gunshot was heard.
President Donald Trump announced his death in a statement on Truth Social, writing, “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.”
In response, Trump ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening.
Video posted on social media showed Kirk bleeding heavily from an apparent gunshot wound near his neck.
Utah Valley University issued an alert that “a single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post Wednesday around 6:30 p.m. a suspect had been taken into custody. Shortly afterward, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed in a press conference that individual in custody was “a person of interest.”
Around 8 p.m. ET, FBI Director Kash Patel said they released the person after interrogation.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
Kirk was a right-wing activist and media personality most known for founding Turning Point USA, a group aimed at promoting conservative political positions on school campuses.
Turning Point USA, and a number of its sister organizations under the Turning Point Brand, are nonprofit groups that work to elect young Republican candidates to office and encourage conservative values in high schools, colleges and in churches.
Kirk became the face of a young Republican movement, supporting grassroots efforts to bring new blood into the party.
The 31-year-old began his political rise in 2012 at age 18 when he was scouted by Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery while speaking at Benedictine University’s Youth Government Day as a high school student. Montgomery convinced Kirk to put off college and pursue activism full time, with the pair launching Turning Point USA shortly after.
Kirk’s outspoken support of President Donald Trump’s policies made him a hero to some young Republicans, and has drawn the ire of Democrats who say he is arguing in bad faith.
He has publicly promoted conspiracies, including falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and boosting unsubstantiated rumors.
Kirk was married to Erika Frantzve, a podcaster and businesswoman. He leaves behind two children.
Why was Charlie Kirk in Utah?
Kirk was at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” This was his first stop since resuming the tour.
His team posted to social media 20 minutes before the reported shooting, writing “Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.” The post has since been deleted.
The event started just after noon local time and was open to the public. His presence caused controversy on the campus recently, with the school paper The UVU Review reporting some were opposing him speaking.
