US president says Kirk died after being shot while presenting at Utah Valley University.
Charlie Kirk, the CEO and cofounder of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, has died after being shot at an event at a Utah college, United States President Donald Trump announced on social media. He was 31.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Utah authorities said Kirk was killed with a single shot in what is believed to be a targeted attack.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox called it a “political assassination”.
“I’ve been in touch with President Trump, with FBI director Kash Patel. We are completely aligned with our state and federal partners as we work through this case,” Cox said at a news conference.
“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”
Video of the incident circulating on social media showed Kirk addressing a large outdoor crowd when a loud crack that sounded like a gunshot rang out. Kirk can be seen briefly moving his hand to his neck as he falls off his chair, sending the attendees running.
He was brought to the hospital in critical condition.
FBI director Kash Patel said a suspect in the shooting had been taken into custody.
