UTAH VALLEY, Utah — Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot during a campus debate at Utah Valley University last week and died of his injuries, according to prosecutors. Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, among other counts, authorities said.
Dana White, president of the UFC, said he woke up to a flood of messages about the shooting and was stunned by the news. He noted that his children were deeply affected; his daughter, who is in college, had followed Kirk on social media and was described as devastated by the events. White discussed the case during a recent appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast.
On the same podcast, Paul framed the incident as a setback to the long-running tradition of peaceful political dialogue in America and praised Kirk for engaging audiences, even as he warned against violence. White responded that violence is what happens when people lack the ability to debate.
The attack occurred during a campus debate at UVU, a program that drew students and supporters of Kirk, a controversial figure in conservative circles and founder of Turning Point USA. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed a motive, and investigators have not linked the attack to a broader conspiracy.
Robinson is in custody and faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Officials said additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
Reaction from the sports world and political commentators reflected shock at the violent turn in public discourse on campus and beyond. The case remains a developing story as authorities continue to piece together what happened and why.