A memorial service was held for Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in Utah, at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 10, 2025. — Reuters
– Authorities have initiated a manhunt for a sniper suspected of firing from a rooftop.
– Charlie Kirk co-founded the largest conservative youth organization in the United States.
– President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff.
A prominent conservative activist and supporter of President Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The incident prompted officials to launch a search for the lone gunman, whom the governor described as having carried out a political assassination.
As of Wednesday night, authorities had yet to apprehend a suspect, roughly eight hours after the shooting during an event attended by 3,000 people. The shooter remains at large, allegedly positioned on a campus rooftop, according to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason.
State police reported that two men had been detained and one was questioned but both were later released. They emphasized there was no connection between these individuals and the shooting, which remains under active investigation and manhunt.
In a recorded message from the Oval Office posted online, President Trump pledged his administration’s commitment to finding the suspect. “We will track down everyone involved in this terrible act, including those funding and supporting such political violence,” he stated.
Video footage circulating online shows Kirk addressing a crowd before a gunshot rings out around 12:20 p.m. Mountain Time. Kirk instinctively reached for his neck as he collapsed from his chair, causing panic among attendees. Blood can be seen immediately after the shot in some clips.
Jeff Long, the university police chief, explained that six officers were present at the event and coordinated with Kirk’s private security team, also on site.
In honor of Kirk, Trump ordered all federal flags to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday.
This incident marks another instance of increasing political violence in the U.S., including two attempts on Trump’s life last year. Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox called the shooting a political assassination and expressed his sorrow, noting the lack of clear motive amid ongoing efforts to identify the shooter.
Trump condemned the escalating rhetoric from the radical left, which he claimed has been responsible for inciting violence. “For years, they’ve compared patriotic Americans like Charlie to Nazis and mass murderers. This rhetoric fuels terrorism, and it must end now,” he said.
Attempts on Kirk’s life follow a pattern of politically motivated attacks, such as the 2022 assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, plots against Michigan’s governor, and violent incidents targeting other politicians and organizations across the country.
Kirk, who has amassed 5.3 million followers on social media and hosted the popular “The Charlie Kirk Show,” was actively engaged in rallying young voters and often participated in debates at various universities as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” His work with Turning Point USA significantly contributed to recent conservative electoral gains.
Moments before being shot, Kirk was being asked about gun violence, prompting a question: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last decade?” To which he responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Moments later, he was wounded.
Kirk’s influence extends into the mainstream conservative movement, often criticizing liberal policies and media, and engaging in culture war issues related to race, gender, and immigration through provocative commentary.
Within the White House, staff members, many of whom admired Kirk, looked visibly shaken upon hearing the news.
Both Republicans and Democrats expressed their dismay over the incident. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic House Minority Leader, condemned all forms of political violence and expressed condolences to Kirk’s family.
This attack underscores the ongoing rise in politically motivated violence, the worst since the 1970s. Since the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, over 300 politically motivated violent acts have been documented across the country, including last year’s attempted assassination of Trump, an arson at Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro’s residence, and other assaults on political figures.
The pattern indicates a disturbing escalation of threats and violence targeting politicians and political supporters nationwide.
