Conservative Influencer Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah University Event

Charlie Kirk, close ally of President Trump, was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 11.

Charlie Kirk, 31, grew up in suburban Chicago and became active in politics as a teenager. He launched The Charlie Kirk Show in 2019, one of Apple’s top podcasts, and has since built a huge online following with 5.2M followers on X and 73M on TikTok.

Kirk was shot about 20 minutes into his speech to 3,000 people under a tent with the slogan “The American Comeback.” Authorities say the shooter fired from the Losee Center rooftop, over 100 yards away, with videos showing a figure on the roof before and after the attack.

Trump posted on social media: “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. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me… Charlie, we love you!”

FBI Director Kash Patel has said that the person earlier detained in Charlie Kirk’s killing was released after interrogation, adding that the investigation is ongoing.