Charlie Kirk, the founder and chief executive of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot dead Wednesday while speaking at a town-hall event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, law enforcement and witnesses said.
The 31-year-old was struck when a bullet pierced his throat in the middle of a well-attended speaking engagement, according to eyewitness accounts and media reports. Former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, told Fox News that Kirk had been answering a question about transgender mass shooters when the shot struck. Attendees ran after the sound of gunfire, and authorities cordoned off the area as investigators secured the scene.
Kirk rose to national prominence as a vocal and energetic conservative commentator and organizer. He founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18; the organization grew into a major grassroots conservative group with a presence on campuses and in high schools nationwide. Turning Point’s reported revenue climbed from $4.3 million in 2016 to $92.4 million in 2023, with a large share coming from donations, according to previously reported figures.
The group said it had chapters at more than 3,500 schools and claimed more than 250,000 student members on its website. Kirk also cultivated a large online following through videos, debates on campuses and social media platforms; his YouTube channel had millions of subscribers and he hosted a weekday talk show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network earlier this year.
Kirk’s profile attracted frequent national attention for his combative style and outspoken conservative positions. He wrote several books on conservatism and campus politics and regularly debated students and critics on topics including abortion, religion and campus culture. In the hours before the shooting, Kirk posted on social media about a separate killing of a Ukrainian refugee and made politically charged comments that were emblematic of his public persona.
Kirk grew up in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. He was active in the Boy Scouts as a youth and became an Eagle Scout. He briefly attended Harper College before leaving to pursue politics. Early public appearances included an essay he wrote in high school alleging liberal bias in textbooks, which led to a television appearance and helped launch his public career.
Kirk maintained close ties to leading figures in Republican politics, including former President Donald Trump. He had been among a small group of people invited to Mar-a-Lago around Trump’s 2025 inauguration, and the two had frequently exchanged praise. Trump posted on Truth Social after the shooting, writing in part, "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," and extending sympathies to Kirk’s wife and family.
Kirk was married to Erika Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona USA and ministry leader. The couple married in 2021 and had two young children, a daughter and a son. Frantzve has been active publicly as a model, podcast host and in ministry roles; social media posts show the family life that was a frequent theme in their public messaging.
Authorities provided limited details about a suspect or motive in the hours after the shooting. Investigators were at the scene and law enforcement officials taped off areas around the event as they conducted their inquiry. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as people fled after the gunfire.
Turning Point USA grew from a small campus operation into a national political organization under Kirk’s direction, organizing events, running campus chapters and producing online content aimed at conservative youth. Its growth and Kirk’s media presence made him a polarizing figure in contemporary American politics.
Kirk authored several books, including titles that focused on campus politics and conservative strategy. He hosted debates and speaking engagements across the country as part of an "American Comeback Tour" intended to challenge prevailing views on college campuses.
Friends, colleagues and political figures reacted on social media and in statements following the shooting, expressing shock and condolences. Investigations into the shooting were continuing, and officials urged anyone with information to come forward. Media organizations covering the incident said they would provide updates as more details became available.
The shooting at Utah Valley University adds to a string of high-profile attacks that have prompted renewed attention to security at political events and on college campuses. Authorities and university officials said they were coordinating with investigators and monitoring campus safety in the aftermath of the attack.
As law enforcement pursues leads and gathers evidence, the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether there was a clear motive and the identity of a suspect, remained under investigation. Turning Point USA and Kirk’s family did not immediately provide further comment beyond statements posted on social platforms in the hours after the incident.