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Charlie Kirk, the conservative firebrand and founder of Turning Point USA, has died after he was shot while speaking at a Utah Valley University event in Orem, Utah.
President Donald Trump initially shared news of his death on Truth Social.
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump wrote. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Graphic video posted to social media shows Kirk on stage, sitting in a chair, talking into a microphone. A single gunshot was heard and Kirk's head thrust back as he fell. People started screaming and running away, the video shows.
Kirk, 31, was on campus for the first stop of his American Comeback Tour.
The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. (Photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
Here's what happened following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10.
FBI asking for tips
10:15 p.m. ET: The FBI is asking for the public's help with any information, photos and video from the shooting as the gunman is still at large.
Law enforcement initially arrested George Zinn, who was later released and charged with obstruction by the Utah Valley University police, according to a Utah Department of Public Safety news release.
A second suspect, Zacharia Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after being interviewed.
"There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter," DPS said.
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Dispatch audio details response to Charlie Kirk shooting
Dispatch audio released by Utah County Public Safety captured the moment authorities were alerted to the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10. (Credit: Utah County Public Safety/Broadcastify via Storyful)
Person of interest released from custody: FBI
7:59 p.m. ET: The person of interest who was taken into custody following the deadly shooting of Kirk was released later on Wednesday evening, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
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Subject in custody for Kirk shooting released, FBI says
Former FBI agent Scott Duffey joins LiveNOW's Mike Pache to explain where the investigation is going in the shooting in Utah that left Charlie Kirk dead.
‘Try to find a way to stop hating our fellow Americans’
6:25 p.m. ET: Officials provided an update on the investigation into Kirk's shooting death at the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday evening.
Gov. Spencer Cox called Kirk's death a political assassination and asked for the public to find a way to "stop hating our fellow Americans."
"We desperately need our country. We desperately need leaders in our country. But more than the leaders, we just need every single person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be. To ask ourselves, is this it? Is this what 250 years has wrought on us? I pray that that's not the case. I pray that those who hated what Charlie Kirk stood for, will put down their social media and their pens and pray for his family. And that all of us, all of us will try to find a way to stop hating our fellow Americans," Cox said.
RELATED: Charlie Kirk shooting: What we know about the suspected gunman
Person of interest is in custody
6:21 p.m. ET: FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed later on Wednesday that a person of interest has been taken into custody.
Law enforcement to hold news conference
6:09 p.m. ET: Law enforcement scheduled a news conference to provide an update on the investigation into Kirk's shooting death on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Trump orders flags lowered to half-staff
5:15 p.m. ET: On Truth Social, Trump said he has ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Kirk. The order extends through 6 p.m. Sunday. Flags were already going to be half-staff Thursday for the anniversary of 9/11.
Suspect not in custody
4:42 p.m. ET: There is no suspect in custody. Earlier, the university said there was a suspect in custody, but officials have since confirmed that's not true. According to The Associated Press, a person was detained after the shooting, but that person is not the shooting suspect.
Security officials meeting in Situation Room
4 p.m. ET: Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich said national security officials are meeting in the Situation Room to monitor the shooting.
‘People started screaming,' witness says
3:39 p.m. ET: Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman and Fox News contributor who was at the event with his family, told Fox News there were about 2,000 people at the event. It’s the largest university in Utah, he said, with more than 40,000 students.
Chaffetz said Kirk was responding to a question about transgender mass shooters when a shot rang out.
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Charlie Kirk carried away after being shot at Utah Valley University
Right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. Video taken by a person attending Kirk's event showed the Turning Point USA co-founder being carried away following the shooting. (Credit: Jeremy King via Storyful)
RELATED: Video shows moment Charlie Kirk shot during university event
"As soon as that shot went out, he fell back … and everybody hit the deck, a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running," he recalled.
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Witnesses describe Charlie Kirk shooting
Charlie Kirk died following a shooting during an event at Utah Valley University.
Chaffetz said there was some police presence and Kirk has a limited security detail, but "there was no security check going in."
"I just hope he in some way survives this," he said.
Charlie Kirk shot
What we know:
According to the university, a single shot was fired at Kirk from a nearby building around 12:10 p.m. local time, about 20 minutes after he started speaking. The shot was fired from about 200 yards away, officials said.
RELATED: What is Turning Point USA? Charlie Kirk's nonprofit
Kirk was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. President Trump said Kirk later died.
Campus has been closed for the remainder of the day.
Orem police respond to a shooting at the Charlie Kirk event (KSTU via FOX)
Kirk had posted on X earlier showing photos and videos of the crowd before the event started, but the post has since been deleted.
What we don't know:
The gunman, who was taken into custody later on Wednesday, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, has not been identified.
Orem police respond to a shooting at the Charlie Kirk event (KSTU via FOX)
What they're saying:
President Donald Trump responded to the shooting on his Truth Social account.
"We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!" Trump wrote.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is monitoring reports of the shooting.
Vice President JD Vance asked for people to pray for Kirk.
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah posted on X that he is "tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely."
"Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there," he said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox also weighed in on X.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
The backstory:
Kirk is the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA. Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government.
FILE - Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the back of the room as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
He has appeared alongside Trump on stage at political events, and is also a frequent commentator on Fox News, CNBC, and FOX Business News. He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
RELATED: Who is Charlie Kirk? Political activist killed at Utah Valley University, Trump confirms
Kirk played a major role in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. He was credited with turning out the younger vote for Trump.
Pattern of political violence
Big picture view:
The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year.
Orem police respond to a shooting at the Charlie Kirk event (KSTU via FOX)
The Source: This report includes information from Utah Valley University, The Associated Press, BBC, and the social media accounts of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Sen. Mike Lee.