Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University in Orem and was transported to a hospital in critical condition, university officials and witnesses said. Confusion followed the immediate aftermath when video showed an elderly man being detained by police, but a university spokesperson later said that man was not believed to be the shooter and that the gunman remained at large.
Officials said the shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, roughly 200 feet from where Kirk was seated during a Turning Point USA question-and-answer event. Witnesses described chaos as attendees fled and emergency responders rushed to Kirk’s aid.
Justin Hickens, a witness who spoke to NBC News, said he saw Kirk struck in the neck and observed "a bunch of blood come out of Charlie." "I saw his body kind of kick back and go limp, and everybody dropped to the ground," Hickens said. Video circulating on social media showed bystanders screaming as shots rang out and emergency personnel carrying Kirk away on a stretcher.
Another witness, Sophie Anderson, told reporters she was about 100 feet from the stage and said she saw Kirk fall and noted heavy bleeding. "They carried him off. All these kids are just falling apart and bawling," she said.
Footage from the scene also captured an elderly man with white hair being led away on his knees by officers as bystanders shouted at him. One onlooker was heard yelling, "How dare you, you f---ing monster!" University spokesperson Scott Trotter later told reporters that the man seen in those clips was not believed to be the shooter. An alert sent to students shortly after the incident indicated that someone was in custody, but Trotter said investigators still considered the shooter at large and the campus was locked down while law enforcement conducted a search.
Turning Point USA-affiliated sources told conservative journalist Nick Sortor on X that Kirk was "stabilizing" but remained in critical condition. On-air commentator Glenn Beck said on Megyn Kelly's program that he had been told Kirk "has a pulse." Officials did not immediately confirm details of Kirk’s medical status beyond calling it critical.
The shooting took place during what organizers described as the first stop of Kirk's "Great American Comeback Tour." Kirk, 31, is married and has two children. He posted to X at 2:23 p.m. ET shortly before reports of the shooting, writing in a post seen by reporters: "WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour."
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling for prayers for Kirk and saying, "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!" Vice President J.D. Vance also called for prayers on X and described Kirk as "a genuinely good guy and a young father."
Utah Valley University announced an evacuation and canceled classes until further notice as police secured the scene and searched campus buildings. University officials said they were working with local law enforcement on the investigation. Police did not immediately release the name of any suspect or publicly confirm the number of people detained during the initial response.
The event had drawn a large crowd, and local media and social posts showed panicked attendees fleeing into a nearby food court and other campus facilities. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area while the search and investigation continued.
Investigators were reviewing video and witness accounts to determine the shooter’s location and identity. University officials and law enforcement did not provide a timeline for when more information would be released.
The shooting renewed public attention on security at political and campus events as officials and organizers awaited additional details from the ongoing investigation.