Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at a rally on the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday, university officials and law enforcement said.
Utah Valley University (UVU) spokesperson Scott Trotter said the shooting occurred at 12:20 p.m. local time in the quad near the food court on the Orem campus. "A single shot rang out in the quad near the food court on the Utah Valley University Orem Campus as Mr. Charlie Kirk began speaking at his planned rally," Trotter said in a statement. Kirk was struck in the neck, rushed to a hospital and later died of his injuries, authorities said. The suspect was not in custody.
Witnesses described chaos after the single gunshot; some accounts said Kirk had been answering a question about mass shootings moments before he was struck. UVU officials said preliminary information indicated the shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, about 200 feet from where Kirk was seated. Police initially took an elderly man into custody but later determined he was not the shooter and released him.
Local, state and federal authorities were conducting a joint investigation, and the FBI joined Utah law enforcement in a manhunt for the suspect, officials said. Utah Gov. Charles Cox wrote on X that he had spoken with former President Trump and that state and federal agencies "will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy." UVU said the campus would be closed for the remainder of the day as investigators processed the scene.
The killing prompted immediate reactions from political figures in the United States and the United Kingdom. Former British prime minister Boris Johnson posted on X that Kirk's death was "a tragedy, and a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument," and described him as a "shining new martyr to free speech." Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his "thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk" and urged that there could be "no justification for political violence." Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also offered condolences and called the killing "deeply shocking."
Other British politicians, including Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, Conservative figures Kemi Badenoch and Liz Truss, also issued statements expressing sorrow and condemning political violence. On social media, former President Trump called Kirk "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk," saying he was "loved and admired by ALL, especially me," and extended sympathies to Kirk's wife and children.
Kirk, a father of two, is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May, according to statements from people close to the family.
Kirk was a well-known figure in conservative circles and a frequent campus speaker, described by supporters as a vocal advocate for pro-Trump views and by critics as a polarizing commentator. The rally at UVU had drawn a crowd of students and supporters when the gunfire erupted.
Investigators have urged anyone with information or video of the incident to contact local authorities or the FBI. As the probe continues, officials have not released details about a motive or identified a suspect, and cautioned the public against speculation while evidence is collected.
The shooting adds to a recent string of attacks that have prompted debate about the safety of public political events and the security protocols at campus gatherings. Law enforcement officials said they would review security measures as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities did not immediately release further forensic details. UVU and local law enforcement said they would provide updates as the investigation progresses and as more information becomes available to the public.