Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday afternoon, in what officials are describing as a targeted attack. He was 31 years old.

The incident occurred around 12:20 p.m. at Kirk’s “Prove Me Wrong” table, part of his American Comeback Tour, which had drawn a large outdoor crowd. Witnesses said a single gunshot rang out, striking Kirk in the neck as he was addressing attendees. Graphic footage from the scene showed him recoiling and collapsing as blood poured from his wound.

According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, preliminary investigations indicate the shooter fired from a rooftop near the event space before fleeing. Despite initial reports of two people taken into custody, authorities later confirmed that those individuals were not connected to the shooting and were released. As of late Wednesday, no suspects were in custody.

Governor Spencer Cox condemned the shooting in stark terms, calling it “a political assassination” and “a dark day for our state and our nation.” He urged calm while pledging the state’s full cooperation with federal investigators.

President Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk, confirmed his death in a statement on Truth Social. “Charlie Kirk was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now he is no longer with us. This is a dark moment for America,” the president wrote. Trump later described the killing as “a senseless act of political violence that advances neither America nor freedom.”

The FBI has joined the investigation, working alongside Utah state police and local law enforcement to identify the shooter and determine the motive. Security around public universities and political events in Utah has been tightened following the attack.

Kirk, who rose to prominence in his early twenties, founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and became a central figure in the conservative youth movement. He was a vocal supporter of President Trump and a frequent presence on conservative media, known for his fiery critiques of liberal politics and his calls for greater youth engagement in conservative causes.

The shooting has already triggered a wave of tributes across the political spectrum. While conservative allies hailed him as a fearless voice for American values, even some political opponents expressed shock and condemned the violence.

Kirk’s death marks one of the most high-profile political assassinations in recent U.S. history, raising fresh concerns about escalating political tensions and the safety of public figures in a deeply polarized nation.