Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot While Speaking at Utah Valley University

Charlie Kirk, the co-founder and head of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was shot during an event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, according to a statement from the organization. Public relations manager Aubrey Laitsch confirmed the shooting, adding that the organization is praying for Kirk’s health.

The event on the campus of Utah Valley University took place at the courtyard of the Sorensen Center. Kirk was speaking at the time under a white tent that read “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A handheld video that was posted on social media shows Kirk speaking to the audience before a gunshot is heard. Kirk immediately grabbed for his neck while the audience reacted in shock and began to run away. The Associated Press confirmed the time and location of the video.

Eyewitness Accounts and Responses from Public Figures

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, told Fox News that he heard the gunshot and saw Kirk react. Chaffetz described them as an extremely close range shot and expressed concern that there weren’t enough police or security personnel. “Utah is one of the safest places on the planet, and so we just don’t have this type of thing,” he said during the interview, clearly shaken.

Former President Donald Trump sent a message of support on Truth Social, calling Kirk “a great guy from top to bottom,” and told Americans to pray for him.

Kirk, 30, has been both a controversial but also influential person in conservative politics. In 2012, at 18 years old, he founded Turning Point USA to engage students in promoting limited government and free markets on college campuses. The organization received national attention during the Trump presidency and has remain a prominent player in right-wing student activism. Kirk also contributed briefly as a personal staffer for Donald Trump Jr. during the 2016 campaign.

Context of Political Violence in the U.S.

The shooting adds to a concerning trend of politically-motivated violence around the country. In the past month, a Minnesota state legislator and husband were murdered in their home, rioters tossed a firebomb along the Colorado parade route amid pro-Hamas demonstrations, and the governor’s residence was attacked in Pennsylvania. Most significantly, Donald Trump survived an attempted assassination at a campaign rally last year.

There has been no information about the shooter, their motive, or whether the investigation is still ongoing. Similarly, there has been no update on the condition of Charlie Kirk since the initial statement from Turning Point USA. Authorities have also not revealed whether arrests or charges have been made. The attack has attracted considerable attention to the increasing tensions at political events, particularly those involving well-known individuals.