Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing political YouTuber and activist, was killed on Wednesday while giving a speech at Utah Valley University.
In videos posted to social media, Kirk was seated beneath a tent in the campus courtyard when gunfire erupted, striking him mid-speech. Students can be seen in the footage running for cover as the sound of shots rang out.
The event was part of The American Comeback Tour, hosted by Turning Point USA’s chapter at Utah Valley.
“Today at about 12:10, a shot was fired at the visiting speaker, Charlie Kirk,” Utah Valley University said in a statement.
Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a post: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents are now involved, with an investigation underway. A suspect is not yet in custody.
Kirk, born October 14, 1993, was the founder of Turning Point USA and built a massive following as a conservative influencer. His YouTube channel alone boasts more than 4 million subscribers, with millions more across other platforms.
