A campus in Utah is reeling and a nationwide manhunt is underway after Charlie Kirk, a prominent and influential ally of Donald Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The killing, described by President Trump as a “dark moment for America,” has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, sparking widespread condemnation of political violence.
Kirk, 31, was a powerful voice in the young right-wing conservative movement and co-founder of Turning Point USA. He was speaking at an outdoor campus event when he was struck in the neck by a single bullet, believed to have been fired from the roof of a nearby building. He was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.
The shooting, which occurred around midday local time, led to a campus-wide lockdown. While police initially went door-to-door in their search, the lockdown has since been lifted, and authorities do not believe the shooter is still on campus. Students who fled the scene are now being allowed to return to get their belongings or go home. Classes for the day remain canceled, and police are still guarding the campus entrances to control vehicle traffic.
A manhunt for the killer is still in progress, though police have not released any information on potential leads. Two suspects were initially arrested but were later released after investigators determined they had “no current ties” to the shooting.
In a video statement posted on social media, President Donald Trump eulogized Kirk as a “patriot” and a “martyr for truth and freedom.” He vowed that his administration would find all those who contributed to what he called a “heinous assassination.” Trump also ordered all U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Kirk.
The attack has been widely condemned by politicians across the political spectrum, with figures from both parties mourning Kirk’s death and denouncing political violence. A vigil for the father-of-two was held on Wednesday night, as supporters and students gathered to pay their respects to a man they regarded as a powerful voice for their movement.
The killing has intensified the ongoing debate about political divisiveness and violence in America, with many pointing to the incident as a stark and tragic example of the nation’s fractured political climate.
