Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, and authorities announced on Sept. 12 that a suspect had been taken into custody following a multi-day manhunt.
The shooting occurred around 12:20 p.m. local time in an outdoor courtyard at the Orem, Utah, campus during a public event tied to Kirk's "American Comeback Tour." University and law enforcement officials said a single shot struck Kirk in the neck as he answered a question from someone in the audience. He was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. The FBI and Utah law enforcement agencies led a joint investigation.
Officials provided a timeline of movements and investigative steps that unfolded after the shooting. Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the suspect arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m., moved through stairwells to a roof across from the event site and fired from a building approximately 200 yards from the speaker. Mason said investigators tracked the suspect's movements across the roof and off the building into a nearby neighborhood after the shooting.
Campus police and responding agencies immediately evacuated and locked down the university, escorting students and staff off campus and suspending classes through Sept. 14. Early in the response, a person initially taken into custody was released after questioning, officials said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents responded quickly and worked with local authorities. "We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," Patel said in an initial statement. He later used social posts to update the public, announcing that a subject was in custody and then, hours later, that the person was released after interrogation as the investigation continued.
Investigators recovered what they described as the suspected murder weapon in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. The FBI said the rifle is a high-powered bolt-action rifle that will be analyzed by the bureau's laboratory. Agents also collected footwear impressions and palm and forearm imprints for analysis. FBI officials said they believed the shooter was "of college age." The bureau released surveillance images and video of a person of interest dressed in black and asked the public for help identifying the individual.
On Sept. 11 the FBI announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible. Local and federal officials held a news conference that morning to discuss the ongoing search and to release footage showing a suspect fleeing the roof and jumping off the building to escape.
On Sept. 12, President Donald Trump posted on his social platform that "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," and expressed condolences to Kirk's family. Later that morning, Trump told Fox News that, "with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody," and praised the cooperation between agencies.
Sources told Fox News the suspect arrested was identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident. Federal and local authorities confirmed an arrest but did not immediately release formal charging information or other details as they continued gathering evidence and conducting interviews.
Authorities said the investigation remains active. The FBI indicated it would provide additional updates "when able" and emphasized that the bureau and local partners continued to examine forensic evidence, surveillance footage and other leads.
The shooting prompted an immediate and broad response from law enforcement agencies, including the UVU Police Department, Orem Police Department, the Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI. UVU officials said they worked to ensure the safety of students and staff and to cooperate with investigators examining the scene, reviewing campus security footage and tracing the suspect's movements off campus.
Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, drew a large crowd to the UVU event, organizers said, with roughly 1,400 people RSVP'd. The sight of the shooting and its aftermath prompted swift questions about event security and campus safety protocols; university officials said they were assisting investigators and would review details as the inquiry proceeded.
As investigators continue to assemble evidence, authorities have urged anyone with information or relevant footage to contact the FBI's Salt Lake City office. The bureau's initial public post seeking assistance included surveillance stills and asked the community to come forward with tips that could help identify the person of interest.
All developments reported here are based on statements from federal and local law enforcement, university officials and reporting from news organizations. The FBI and Utah authorities said they will release further information as the investigation allows.