Former NFL player Tim Tebow said “evil is real” and urged prayer after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot on a Utah college campus and later died Wednesday.
Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative influencer, was shot on the campus of Utah Valley University and later died in Orem, officials and news accounts said. A manhunt was launched for the suspect following the shooting.
Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner and college football national champion who now leads the Tim Tebow Foundation, posted on X that “Evil is real. There is no doubt, the enemy is hard at work.” He wrote that the nation has felt “the weight of evil” in recent days and added, “But this I know: It will not have the final word. One day, God will make all things right.”
In the post, Tebow said he was praying for Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their two children and described Kirk as “a follower of Jesus, a husband, and a dad” who was “a man of passion, courage, and devotion to making an eternal impact.” He and his wife, Demi, said they were praying for Kirk’s family.
Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” saying Kirk understood “the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America” and offering sympathies to Kirk’s family. Kirk had become a well-known voice in conservative politics and youth organizing through Turning Point USA and related media efforts.
The shooting occurred on the Utah Valley University campus, and Kirk was later pronounced dead in Orem, according to local authorities and media reports. Law enforcement said a suspect remained at large as of Wednesday evening and that investigators were pursuing leads and conducting a manhunt. Officials did not immediately release additional details about a motive or the suspect.
Sports teams and public figures reacted to the killing. Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees held a moment of silence before their game Wednesday evening to recognize Kirk’s death.
Authorities said the investigation and the search for the suspect were ongoing. Local and federal agencies have been involved in the response, and officials urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. Family members and associates issued public statements mourning Kirk, and political figures across the country made public remarks in response to the shooting.
As officials continue their inquiry, public reactions have ranged from calls for prayer and unity to renewed discussions about political violence and campus safety. No charges had been announced publicly as of Wednesday night, and law enforcement officials cautioned that details remained under investigation.