Law enforcement continued to search for the person who fatally shot Charlie Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, as attendees and event staff described minimal security and a chaotic, panicked evacuation.
Witnesses said there were few uniformed officers visible at the Turning Point USA event and that no bag checks or metal detectors were in place before the program. "There were not a lot of cops there. I’ve seen more cops at UVU for sporting events than right now," a witness identified as Sam, a local high school student, told KUTV. He said officers were positioned on elevated walkways to prevent objects from being thrown but that there appeared to be little effort to control the crowd directly in front of the stage.
Cooper Brown, who was handling the microphone at the event, described how the shooting unfolded. "Very, very soon after the question and answering started, I heard a very loud pop and I looked to my right and see Charlie Kirk, his body shake and blood begin to pour down from the side of his neck," Brown said in an interview on Fox & Friends First. He said attendees initially dropped to the ground expecting more gunfire and then rushed to help others exit once they realized there had been a single shot.
Ryan DeVries, a 25-year-old property manager and volunteer first responder, said he had left his firearm in his car because he expected metal detectors would be used at the event. DeVries said he heard a sound he described as a popping firework and watched Kirk’s head slump. He said a stampede followed, with some attendees running into a nearby building and others fleeing through a water fountain. "People definitely feared for their lives. I could see it in their eyes. I could hear it in their voices. People were crying. People were screaming. It was a nightmare," DeVries told the Associated Press.
University and local law enforcement initially detained an individual believed to be involved, but authorities later said that person was not connected to the shooting. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect or offered a motive. Officials said they continue to seek information and urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward.
Images from the scene show people running from the auditorium and first responders treating victims. Emergency crews worked on site after the shooting, and campus leaders closed portions of the university while investigations continued.
Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA and had been on a nationwide campus tour. His appearances at colleges and universities frequently drew large crowds and sharp political attention. The shooting prompted vigils across the country and public condolences, including statements from political figures and international leaders mourning his death. Organizers and attendees at the UVU event said they gathered afterward for prayer and to support one another.
University officials and police provided limited public details as investigators processed the scene and conducted interviews. The Associated Press contributed to this report.