Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback Tour” stop. The gunshot struck him in the neck during a public Q&A session, reportedly about mass shootings and transgender individuals, triggering chaos among the roughly 3,000 people in attendance.
Witnesses say the shot came from about 200 yards away, from a rooftop on campus. Initial reports indicated someone was taken into custody, but that person was later released after being cleared of involvement.
Utah’s governor called the killing a political assassination. Kirk, who was 31 and a father of two, was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The investigation into who carried out the attack and why is ongoing, as national figures have expressed grief and called for answers.