AMN / WEB DESK
AMERICAN Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot dead during a public event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through U.S. politics and reigniting concerns about rising political violence. He was 31.
The shooting occurred shortly after noon as Kirk addressed hundreds of students under a tent as part of his “Prove Me Wrong” campus tour. Investigators say the fatal shot was fired from a rooftop nearly 200 yards away. Authorities later recovered a high-powered rifle, though no suspect is yet in custody.
Law enforcement agencies quickly locked down the campus while the FBI launched a manhunt, releasing images of a possible person of interest. Officials stressed that the attack appeared to be a targeted assassination rather than random violence.
Political leaders from across the spectrum swiftly condemned the killing. President Donald Trump called it “an attack on democratic expression,” while former President Joe Biden described Kirk as “a fearless voice for America’s youth.”
In the wake of the incident, Turning Point USA suspended all upcoming events, citing security concerns. The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over campus safety, political rhetoric, and the security of high-profile speakers in a polarized America.
Kirk’s death marks one of the most high-profile political killings in recent U.S. history, underscoring the fragile state of civil discourse and raising questions about how universities and public venues can protect freedom of speech while preventing violence.