Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a single shot in a targeted attack during an outdoor event Wednesday at Utah Valley University, authorities said. Kirk co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump. No one was in custody Wednesday evening as authorities seek a new person of interest in the assassination, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety also confirmed no one was in custody in the investigation into Kirk’s killing. “This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.” The shooting comes amid a spike in attacks on political figures in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. Here’s everything that happened on Sept. 10, 2025. Thousands of people went to see Kirk speak Authorities say about 3,000 people attended the Utah college event where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed. The Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement Wednesday evening that the event was held at an outdoor bowl courtyard on campus known as the university quad. It is a common spot for campus events. Black Lives Matter affiliate calls on U.S. political leaders to ‘condemn all political violence’ “We cannot ignore the flames of political violence threatening society,” said Shalomyah Bowers, a leader of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc. Charlie Kirk had maligned the Black Lives Matter movement at the heigh of a national reckoning on racism. “We are committed to breaking the pattern of reactionary violence, moral relativism, and dehumanization — and urge everyone to resist calls for revenge,” Bowers said. “Vigilante justice has no place in a just society. Not on the left. Not on the right. Not in response to racism, and not in the name of righteousness. It must be rejected, always.” Graphic video of Kirk shooting was everywhere online, showing how media gatekeeper role has changed Traditional news organizations were cautious in their coverage of Kirk’s assassination not to depict the moment he was shot, instead showing video of him tossing a hat to his audience moments before, and panicked onlookers scattering wildly in the moments after. In practical terms, though, it mattered little. Gory video of the shooting was available almost instantly across social media platforms, from several angles, in slow-motion and real-time speed. Millions of people watched. In the fragmented era of social media, smartphones and instant video uploads, editorial decisions by legacy media are less impactful than ever. There can also be an important message sent by news outlets being cautious in what they show, Cornell University professor Sarah Kreps said. “It can be a signal for how things should be stigmatized, rather than validated or normalized.” But on the day of the shooting in a politically polarized country, the easy availability of shocking images ran the risk of making society’s wound even more painful. Trump condemns ‘demonizing’ of political opponents Trump has condemned the “demonizing” of political opponents in the U.S. even as he claimed the rhetoric of the “radical left” was “directly responsible” for the assassination of Kirk. Authorities have not named a suspect and no one is in custody for the killing. In a video message from the Oval Office late Wednesday, Trump called Kirk “a martyr for truth and freedom.” The Republican president faced two assassination attempts during last year’s campaign, and he was wounded in one. In his remarks, Trump mentioned shootings of United Healthcare’s chief executive and Republican Rep. Steve Scalise. But he omitted any reference to attacks on Democrats, such as the killing of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman. “Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives,” he said. Vigil held at park in Omer, Utah A few dozen people gathered, holding electric candles in the slanting afternoon light. Bible verses were read to the quiet onlookers. A witness testified of what she observed: The crack of a gunshot, Kirk keeling over and then her run through campus. ‘We’ve got something to fight for’ Cari Bartholomew, state director of Utah Moms for America, said she had taken her 17-year-old son out of school so he could attend Kirk’s event. They were joined by other moms from the group and their kids. Bartholomew’s son was in line waiting to ask a question when the gunshot rang out. Chaos ensued and she couldn’t find him as people ducked for cover and started running. She later learned her son was unharmed. “All of us, we were trying to grab the little kids and getting them as near to us as possible,” she said. She said some students were visibly distraught while others laughed, and said she’s concerned that people are being taught to hate others who have viewpoints different from their own. Rather than fall into a place of fear, Bartholomew said she hopes people will be inspired to pick up where Kirk left off and continue to push for civil engagement. “I hope that it gets people to steel their spines,” she said. “We’ve got something to fight for.” Banner in Kirk’s memory installed outside Turning Point headquarters in Phoenix “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior,” the large banner reads alongside a photo of Kirk and the Turning Point logo. No one is currently in custody, authorities say Authorities are seeking a new person of interest in Kirk’s assassination, according to a law enforcement official. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety has also confirmed no one is currently in custody in the investigation into Kirk’s killing. Alanna Durkin Richer, Lindsay Whitehurst and Zeke Miller, The Associated Press UVU campus is clear Utah Valley University said in a post on X that the campus is “all-clear.” “There is NO ongoing threat to campus,” the post Wednesday evening said. The university added that the campus will still be closed until Monday amid the ongoing investigation. Status of search for shooter is unclear It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone remained in custody or if the shooter was still at large as law enforcement provided evolving and difficult-to-reconcile information. FBI Director Kash Patel, who earlier in the day posted on social media that a “subject” had been taken into custody, later wrote that the person had been released after being questioned. Utah authorities had separately said a person of interest was in custody, but it wasn’t immediately clear if that was the same person Patel referenced as having been released. Police presence still heavy around shooting scene Police helicopters still were circling over Orem in the early evening, and roadblocks caused congestion on the roads surrounding the Utah Valley University campus. Armed officers walked around in small groups. Just off campus, a man stood on a street corner holding a sign that read “R.I.P. Charlie” and a parade of trucks drove through town flying American flags in his honor. After Kirk’s killing, security measures heightened for 9/11 anniversary events in New York New York City police say the killing in Utah is prompting added security for events in the city marking the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. U.S. Vice-President JD Vance is set to attend tomorrow’s memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center site while President Donald Trump is scheduled to be at the night game pitting the Yankees against the Tigers. Security around the 9/11 commemorations in New York is always comprehensive, with street closures, a large police presence and the Sept. 11 memorial plaza in Lower Manhattan closed to the public. Officials didn’t detail exactly how security would be increased. Moments before the shooting Video shows Kirk had been taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence. “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience member asked. Kirk responded, “Too many.” The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked. Then a single shot rang out. Thousands turned out for Kirk’s appearance and police were also present Jeff Long, chief of Utah Valley University Police Department, says six officers working at Kirk’s campus event and more than 3,000 people were in attendance. The police chief says his officers coordinated their operation with Kirk’s security team, and plainclothes police officers were also present. At the time he was shot, Kirk was speaking to the throng in a low area surrounded by campus buildings. Long said law enforcement tries to get the “bases covered.” But he added, “unfortunately today we didn’t, and because of that we have this tragic incident.” Students, meanwhile, told The Associated Press they saw no metal detectors or bag checks. The amount of security appeared consistent with other speaking engagements on Kirk’s national tour. Suspect released, shooter still at large: FBI director The suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been released after an interrogation with law enforcement, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency,” Patel said in a post on X. Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTV News producer FBI appeals to the public for information about the shooting The FBI’s Salt Lake City office has added an online form to its website where the public can report information about Kirk’s killing. The form says the FBI is “seeking information regarding the shooting at Utah Valley University that took place on September 10, 2025.” It asks the person submitting the form to include their name and contact information and then includes a section for information about the incident. Donald Trump Jr. says Kirk wasn’t a threat to anyone In a lengthy social media post, President Trump’s son says Kirk wasn’t just a friend, but was “like a little brother to me” and a “true inspiration.” Trump Jr. said Kirk “changed the direction of this nation” because “there is no question that Charlie’s work and his voice helped my father win the presidency.” He said Kirk was civil and kind, and listened and responded with respect. “The only `threat’ he ever posed was that he was incredibly effective. He was a powerful messenger of truth, and people heard that truth. That’s what made him a target.” Democrats in Congress mourn Kirk Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan appeared visibly upset while speaking to reporters on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. She said that she cried when she found out that Kirk had died. “All of us have got to work together and deescalate the heat and the rhetoric in this country, she said. Dingell added: “And remember we’re Americans, and you can disagree in a way that doesn’t end in the horrible way today did.” Rep. Jamie Raskin expressed condolences to Kirk’s family, adding, “What a nightmare this whole thing is.” “It’s a very dark time with the political violence spiraling out of control and gun violence a threat to everybody,” Raskin continued. Utah governor says Kirk’s death carries a tragic message for the state of the country Gov. Spencer Cox said that Kirk had come to the Utah Valley University campus to represent his conservative views and debate. Targeting people for their ideas threatens the country’s “constitutional foundations,” he said. “We just need every single person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be,” he said. “I don’t care what his politics are. I care that he was an American.” Cox said the first of the inalienable rights enshrined in the Declaration of Independence is “life, and today a life was taken. Charlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and a dad to young children. He was also very much politically involved. And that’s why he was here on campus. Charlie believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and to persuade people.” President of the university where Kirk was killed calls his death tragic Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez posted on X that the school is “shocked and saddened” by Kirk’s death. She expressed her condolences to his family and said they are grieving with the many people from the school who saw the “unspeakable tragedy” unfold. “We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully. Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here,” the statement said. Kirk backers leave flowers at Turning Point headquarters The flags outside Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters have been lowered to half staff. Bouquets of flowers delivered by well-wishers are piling up by the main door to one of at least three buildings that make up Turning Point’s campus. The organization’s presence has grown steadily in a quiet neighborhood at the base of South Mountain park. Former President George W. Bush says violence must be `purged from the public square’ Bush lamented the killing and said “an open exchange of opposing ideas should be sacrosanct” on a college campus, where Kirk was shot. In his statement, Bush added: “Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens.” The Republican ex-president closed the statement by asking God to bless Kirk and his family and “guide America toward civility.” Another former president, Democrat Bill Clinton, wrote on X that he was saddened and angered by the killing, adding he hoped “we all go through some serious introspection” and “redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately, yet peacefully.” Kirk follower says he went to Turning Point USA’s headquarters to give large donation in person Retiree Alex Lane said news of Kirk’s killing prompted him to head to the organization’s Phoenix headquarters and hand the organization a $10,000 check. “I hope and trust that they’re going to continue with the message that he had,” Lane, 54, told The Associated Press while standing outside the headquarters. Lane said he was a follower of Kirk’s and had given to Turning Point before, but never such a large sum. “It’s a huge loss, there’s no question about it,” Lane said. “But I think the important thing for people to understand is that (Kirk’s message) is going to continue. The assassin didn’t stop it. If anything, I think it will bring more attention to his message.” Lawmakers reflect on Kirk’s influence Multiple Republicans in Congress knew Kirk personally and were devastated by his death. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida spoke on the Capitol steps, reflecting on his influence on her political journey. Luna said she was planning to go to medical school before Kirk recruited her to work as his national Hispanic outreach director. She attended events where Kirk debated students, like the one he hosted today. “That conversation needs to happen,” Luna said. “You can’t squelch that.” Kirk killed with single shot in supposed targeted attack, authorities say Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the killing a “political assassination.” A “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday evening, Cox said, though no charges were immediately announced. “This is a dark day for our state,” Cox said. “We are actively looking for anyone and everyone who has any information related to the shooting,” he said. Utah authorities said the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away. RFK Jr., son and nephew of assassinated leaders, laments another loss Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared to invoke his family’s losses as he reacted to Kirk’s killing. “Once again, a bullet has silenced the most eloquent truth teller of an era,” Kennedy wrote on social media. He called Kirk a “relentless and courageous crusader for free speech.” Kennedy’s father, for whom he was named, was assassinated in 1968 as he sought the Democratic presidential nomination. The elder Kennedy was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War before many elected leaders in Washington. He also had been an advocate for civil rights legislation as attorney general during his brother’s presidency and after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. Person suspected in fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk now in custody, FBI director says The person suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus Wednesday is now in custody, according to a social media post from FBI Director Kash Patel. Kirk fans pay their respects at the Turning Point headquarters in Phoenix One man delivered flowers and wiped tears from his face as he left. He said he was too broken up to speak to reporters. On the sidewalk, 14-year-old Samuel Monahan embraced his parents in prayer. “This is what happens when we’re without God,” said Monahan. The teenager said he admired Kirk for being a man of God who cared about people. The country is so polarized, he said, “but it didn’t have to be that way because we all bow our heads under one flag and under one God.” Former President Obama condemns Kirk’s `despicable’ killing “This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama wrote on X. He said he and former first lady Michelle Obama will pray for Kirk’s wife and two young children. Chaffetz says he’s angry about Kirk’s death “It makes me mad. I’m so mad that this happened in our backyard. It’s an embarrassment,” the Utah Republican former member of Congress told Fox News Channel. Chaffetz was at the event where Kirk was shot. “We’re better than this, but there’s somebody out there who is evil, absolute total, complete evil and they need to be taken down,” he said. Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University marked the kickoff of his national college tour He was calling it “The American Comeback Tour.” And he was featuring his “Prove Me Wrong Table,” where Kirk sat, as he was Wednesday, and fielded questions from students, including those who disagreed with him. He also had appearances slated for Colorado State University, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Virginia Tech University, Utah State University, the University of North Dakota, Montana State University, Indiana University Louisiana State University and the University of Mississippi over the next two months. The scene around campus Armed officers are walking around the neighborhood bordering the campus, knocking on doors and asking for information on the shooter. Officers have been seen looking at a photo on their phones and showing it to people to see if they recognize a person of interest. Mayor urges people to report anything suspicious Mayor David Young of the north-central Utah city of Orem says several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating and that the suspect in Kirk’s shooting remains at large. Young says police in Orem and at Utah Valley University are among many agencies involved in the investigation. Meanwhile, authorities have told anyone at Utah Valley University to ‘secure in place’ after Wednesday’s shooting. The campus was closed, and a post on the school’s emergency information page told those still on campus to call officials to be escorted out. An increase in violence against public officials Kirk’s killing follows instances of political violence in the United States in recent months, including the assassination of a Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in June and the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington in May. Though little is known about the shooter or the motive in this case, it can’t be ignored that polarization and normalization of violence have become threaded through U.S. politics, said Kurt Braddock, an assistant professor of public communication at American University. Braddock pointed to data from Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative, which shows that threat and harassment incidents against local officials also have been gradually increasing. “We’re moving in a very dangerous direction, and I think we have been moving in this direction for quite some time,” Braddock said. Charlie Kirk is dead, Trump says Trump says the conservative activist and his close ally died Wednesday after being shot at a college event in Utah. The president posted on Truth Social that the conservative activist and his close ally died Wednesday after being shot at a college event in Utah. “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.” Person arrested is not a suspect, AP source says A person who was taken into custody at Utah Valley University was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly. It was not clear if authorities were still searching the campus for a suspect. Michelle L. Price Trump says Kirk ‘was a very, very good friend’ In a phone interview with the New York Post, Trump said Kirk is “not doing well” and “it looks very bad.” “He was a very, very good friend of mine and he was a tremendous person,” Trump said. Kirk invite to Dartmouth College campus was in demand: school president Dartmouth College President Sian Beilock says a bipartisan student group invited Kirk to that Ivy League campus for a Sept. 25 event. Beilock says the event “was sold out within 10 minutes.” Beilock made the comment during a media event Wednesday with other college presidents. Victims of political violence show support for Kirk Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, posted that “the horrific shooting today at Utah Valley University is reprehensible. Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation.” Pelosi’s husband was seriously injured in 2022 by a man wielding a hammer, who authorities said was a believer in conspiracy theories. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who suffered a serious brain injury in a 2011 shooting in Arizona, said she was “horrified” to hear of Kirk’s shooting. “Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence,” she said on social media. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat and potential national candidate, said, “We must speak with moral clarity. The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.” A fire was set at his house. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was the subject of a kidnapping plot, said on social media that “we should all come together to stand up against any and all forms of political violence.” Two men were imprisoned for their 2020 plot to kidnap the governor during her first term. A Republican at the event says he heard one shot A former U.S. representative for Utah’s 3rd congressional district, Jason Chaffetz, says when the shot rang out, Kirk had just been asked a question by someone in the crowd about transgender people and shootings. “As soon as I saw Charlie go back, you realize that it was a shot,” Chaffetz says. “It wasn’t as if there was a whole bunch of gunfire. It was one shot.” Elected officials react to the shooting U.S. Vice-President JD Vance: “Dear God, protect Charlie in his darkest hour.” Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: “Political violence must be always and totally rejected,” Buttigieg wrote on X. “Praying for him and all who may have been injured or impacted.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying. Political violence has no place in this country and should never become the norm. I’m sending my sympathies to his family and friends at this time.” Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper: “Violence is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the attack on Charlie Kirk and political violence in all forms. I’m praying for his swift recovery.” New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani: “I’m horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country.” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein: “We can never tolerate or become numb to political violence. Our nation is weaker when people are afraid to share their opinions or disagree. Please join Anna and me in praying for Charlie Kirk’s recovery.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Praying for @charliekirk11″ Maryland Gov. Wes Moore: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Charlie Kirk this afternoon at Utah Valley University. As I have said in the past and as I will continue to say: Political violence is never acceptable. Ever.” Kirk is in critical condition A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting told The Associated Press that Kirk is being treated and is in critical condition. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. By Alana Durkin Richer Utah Valley University is the state’s largest public university With nearly 47,000 students, Utah Valley University has grown to become the largest public university in Utah. It’s located about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Salt Lake City, the state capital, and was founded in 1941 as a vocation school. From those beginnings, its enrollment has jumped five-fold over the past three decades. The college is not affiliated or owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church. Bipartisan rejections of political violence continue Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat and a potential 2028 presidential candidate, called the shooting “chilling & horrific” in an X post. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another Democrat and potential national candidate, said, “We must speak with moral clarity. The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.” Republican Senate Leader John Thune of South Dakota posted: “There is no place in our country for political violence. Period, full stop.” Gabby Giffords says she is horrified about the shooting Giffords, a former U.S. representative for Arizona who suffered a serious brain injury when she was shot in 2011, posted on X about the attack on Kirk. “I’m horrified to hear that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah,” she wrote Wednesday. “Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence.” Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA when he was shot The event at Utah Valley University had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing receiving nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.” U.S. President Trump said on Truth Social that “we must all pray for Charlie Kirk.” “A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” the president said in a post on Truth Social. FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk.” U.S. Vice-President JD Vance also called for prayers, calling Charlie Kirk “a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Attorney General Pam Bondi, and House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the chorus of Trump officials offering their prayers to Kirk. Support also came from across the aisle. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the shooting “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation.” Aubrey Laitsch at Turning Point USA confirms Charlie Kirk has been hospitalized. “He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA. Former Utah congressman says Kirk had some security but not enough Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at the event, said told Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back. “It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke. He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough. “Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”
