Kirk’s Sniper is ‘College Age,’ FBI Recovered a High-Powered Rifle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by a sniper at Utah Valley University during a campus speaking event. The shooter, believed to be of college age, remains at large after escaping into a nearby neighborhood. The political assassination has sparked bipartisan condemnation and renewed debate over political violence in America.
Charlie Kirk Assassination in Utah – Quick Looks
- Charlie Kirk fatally shot at Utah Valley University
- Shooter used high-powered rifle from rooftop, remains unidentified
- Assassination labeled politically motivated by Utah Governor
- Kirk was speaking about gun violence when shot
- Over 3,000 people attended the campus event
- Suspect believed to be college-aged and blended in
- VP JD Vance visited Kirk’s family, called him a key figure in Trump’s administration
- Trump called Kirk a “martyr for truth”
- Bipartisan leaders condemned the violence nationwide
- Event security included university police and Kirk’s personal team
- Campus locked down and closed until Monday
- Shooting adds to growing trend of political violence in U.S.
Deep Look: Charlie Kirk Assassinated During Utah Campus Speech
OREM, Utah — Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, in what authorities are calling a targeted political attack. The assailant, described as being of college age, used a high-powered rifle to fire a single, fatal shot from a distant rooftop before fleeing into a nearby residential area.
Investigators have uncovered what appear to be messages on both the ammunition and the firearm recovered at the scene of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Authorities found the rifle believed to be used to murder Kirk at his Utah Valley University event on Wednesday. They recovered the rifle in the woods near the scene of the shooting, along a path they believe the shooter used to escape.
The FBI has declined to comment on reports of the messages.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said authorities recovered “good video footage” of the shooter on UVU’s campus. He said the shooter appeared to be “of college age,” but declined to offer further details.
Investigators revealed Thursday that the rifle had been recovered at the scene, but the shooter has not yet been identified or apprehended.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who declared the incident a political assassination and pledged accountability, reminding the public that Utah is a death penalty state.
A Carefully Executed Attack
Kirk, 31, was delivering remarks as part of his “American Comeback Tour” at a campus courtyard when the fatal shot rang out. The incident occurred shortly after he began answering a question about gun violence from an audience member. The exchange had already taken a provocative tone, with Kirk being asked how many mass shooters were transgender.
Video footage circulating on social media shows Kirk seated beneath a white event tent moments before reaching toward his neck in shock, blood flowing rapidly from the gunshot wound. Panic erupted as attendees—estimated at over 3,000 people—screamed and scattered.
Eyewitness Madison Lattin, just feet from the stage, recalled the horror: “Blood is falling and dripping down, and you’re just like so scared, not just for him but your own safety.” Some spectators were trampled in the rush to flee.
Despite the presence of six university police officers and Kirk’s private security, the shooter was able to escape. Authorities are now canvassing the area with helicopters and armed personnel, knocking on doors and appealing to local residents for any tips.
Political Shockwaves and Personal Loss
News of Kirk’s death reverberated nationally. President Donald Trump issued a statement calling Kirk “Great, and even Legendary,” and later described him in a video as a “martyr for truth and freedom.” Flags were lowered to half-staff nationwide under a presidential proclamation.
Vice President JD Vance, a close personal friend of Kirk, canceled his appearance at a 9/11 memorial in New York to visit the grieving family in Salt Lake City. In a heartfelt post, Vance credited Kirk with helping organize and staff the second Trump administration.
“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote.
A Campus Divided
Kirk’s appearance had already drawn intense reactions on campus. An online petition asking school officials to cancel the event gathered nearly 1,000 signatures, citing concerns over Kirk’s controversial stances. Nonetheless, Utah Valley University defended the event, citing the institution’s commitment to free speech and open dialogue.
Following the shooting, the campus was evacuated and is expected to remain closed until Monday as the investigation continues.
The assassination has sparked renewed scrutiny over political violence in the United States, which has increasingly affected individuals across the ideological spectrum. The event joins a disturbing pattern that includes the 2024 attempted assassination of Trump, the firebombing of a Colorado parade, and the murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband.
Bipartisan Outrage, National Reflection
Leaders from both parties swiftly condemned the attack. Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, herself a survivor of political violence, called Kirk’s murder “heartbreaking” and extended sympathies to his young family.
Joint statements from political youth groups across party lines, including the Young Democrats of Connecticut and the Connecticut Young Republicans, declared: “We reject all forms of political violence… There is no place in our country for such acts regardless of political disagreements.”
Law enforcement officials confirmed that two individuals were detained briefly on Wednesday but were released after being cleared of involvement.
The Legacy of Charlie Kirk
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with tea party activist William Montgomery when he was just 18. Although the organization started small, it soon became a powerhouse in youth conservative activism. By 2016, Kirk was closely allied with Trump and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
Kirk quickly became a media fixture, frequently appearing on television to voice support for conservative causes and culture war issues. His influence reached deep into the Republican base, with Turning Point events often featuring major political figures.
Despite being a polarizing figure, Kirk inspired deep loyalty among supporters. “He was a role model who taught me how to be determined and fight for the truth,” said Lattin, still shaken by witnessing the assassination.
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