Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, and eerie footage circulated showing a shadowy figure sprinting across a rooftop moments after gunfire rang out as officials launched a multiagency manhunt.
University spokespeople and law enforcement said the gunfire that struck Kirk came from the top of the Losee Center, a building roughly 200 yards from the speaker area. Crowds at the outdoor event scattered after the shot was fired; video from the campus showed attendees ducking for cover as a figure moved along the roof of an adjacent building.
Law enforcement agencies responding to the scene included Orem Police, Utah Valley University Police, the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety, officials said. Campus authorities initially issued alerts saying someone had been taken into custody; those messages were later revised as investigators worked to determine whether the person detained was the shooter.
Witness accounts described chaotic scenes after the shot. Several attendees said Kirk was hit in the neck and collapsed. Video from the event showed first responders and security personnel rushing to his aid and moving him away from the stage area. Other clips showed officers detaining an older man at the scene; a university spokesman later said that individual was not believed to be the shooter.
University officials announced that the campus was closed and classes canceled as police secured the area and escorted people off campus. Students and staff were initially told to "secure in place" until police could provide safe exits. A university spokesperson also said investigators had evidence that a shot had been fired from the roof of the Losee Center.
Responses from political figures and organizations poured in as the situation unfolded. Former President Donald Trump posted that Kirk had been shot and later wrote that Kirk had died; other national figures including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and Utah Governor Spencer Cox issued statements decrying political violence and expressing concern for Kirk's family. Turning Point USA said it was praying for Kirk and asked for privacy for his family as the investigation continued.
Officials gave differing early accounts about Kirk's condition and whether a suspect had been apprehended. A hospital update circulated by some outlets said medical staff were working on Kirk after he lost a substantial amount of blood. Local and federal law enforcement warned that the incident remained an active investigation and advised members of the public to avoid the area while officers conducted searches and followed leads.
Investigators said they were treating the shooting as an isolated attack and were examining video and witness statements to identify the shooter and reconstruct the sequence of events. The FBI said agents were on the scene to support local authorities in the inquiry, and the Utah Department of Public Safety said it had deployed resources to assist.
Attendees and witnesses said the event did not appear to have had robust security screening at entry. One attendee told reporters the event was ticketed but that he was not asked to show a ticket or pass through a security checkpoint before entering the outdoor venue.
The shooting prompted cancellations and security changes at related conservative events elsewhere. Organizers of a scheduled appearance by commentator Ben Shapiro canceled his book talk at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Wednesday after reports of the shooting emerged.
Authorities asked anyone with information or video of the shooting to come forward as they searched for the person who fired the shot. Utah officials, including Governor Cox, pledged to work with federal partners to bring those responsible to justice and urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation proceeded.
The episode drew immediate public attention to the risks faced by high-profile speakers on college campuses and renewed calls from elected officials across the political spectrum for an end to political violence. Investigators said they would release further details as they verified facts and closed leads.