Conservative activist shot to death at university event in Utah

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at a debate on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem.
Sept. 10, 2025
2 min read

Highlights

  • Charlie Kirk was shot and is in critical condition at an event at Utah Valley University.
  • A suspect has been detained; no further details about the shooter have been disclosed.
  • The event had triggered protests, including an online petition to prevent Kirk's appearance.
Utah Valley University
charlie kirk shot utah valley university

Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, has been shot to death at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

The Associated Press reported that Kirk had been taken to a hospital after the shooting and was in critical condition. President Trump announced on a social media post Wednesday afternoon that Kirk had died from his wounds. He was 31.

An earlier report that the suspect in the shooting had been taken into custody was not correct, the university said. Authorities were still searching for the shooter Wednesday afternoon.

Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA. The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures.

The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

About the Author

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Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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