Prominent Trump supporter Charlie Kirk has been murdered after being fatally shot while speaking at a campus event held at Utah Valley University, on Wednesday.
In a video message, Donald Trump referred to the assassination as a "dark moment for America," voicing "grief and anger at the heinous assassination." First Lady Melania Trump too offered tribute, commenting on X that Kirk s children now "will grow up with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter."
Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed.
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) September 11, 2025
Charlie Kirk’s life should serve as a symbolic reminder that compassionate awareness elevates family, love, and…
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA when he was only 18 years old, emerged as one of the most influential conservative voices among young voters. The free-market, limited-government group he founded has over 850 chapters in colleges across the country and was credited with turning out youth voters in support of Trump in the 2024 election.
The incident occurred when 31-year-old was speaking to a sizeable outdoor audience when a death-dealing shot, suspected to have been fired from a roof, hit him.
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The incident unfolded as Kirk was responding to an audience question on mass shootings. Video verified by BBC shows the moment a gunshot echoed across the courtyard, sending the gathering of nearly 3,000 attendees into chaos. Officials said the attack was “targeted,” though no arrests have been made. Two people initially detained were later released after being found to have “no ties” to the shooting.
US officials stated that the incident was a "targeted attack," with the suspect believed to have fired the fatal shot from the roof of a building to the courtyard where Kirk was addressing a large crowd.
A manhunt for the shooter is still ongoing.
