Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah Turning Point USA Event
▼ Summary
– Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, died at age 31 after being shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
– A person of interest was taken into custody but later released after interrogation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
– Videos on social media showed an arrest, but officials clarified that the person detained was not the actual shooter.
– The university closed its campus through September 14th and expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
– Kirk was speaking at the first stop of his American Comeback Tour and engaging with the audience when the shooting occurred.
The tragic death of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, has sent shockwaves through political and media circles. Kirk, a prominent activist and influential figure, was fatally shot while speaking at an event hosted by Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
According to his spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, who spoke with the New York Times, Kirk succumbed to his injuries after being struck by gunfire during a public appearance. Initial reports from Deseret News, later echoed by former President Donald Trump in a social media post, confirmed the devastating news. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz also acknowledged the incident publicly.
During a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that law enforcement had taken a person of interest into custody. This statement came shortly after FBI Director Kash Patel tweeted that the individual responsible for the shooting had been apprehended. However, the situation evolved rapidly. Later that evening, Patel issued a follow-up statement indicating the detained individual had been released after questioning, emphasizing that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Social media footage circulated in the aftermath appeared to show an arrest near the scene, though official sources provided conflicting accounts. A university representative initially confirmed a suspect was in custody, but Deseret News later cited officials who expressed uncertainty about the shooter’s status. A spokesperson also clarified to the New York Times that the person initially detained was not believed to be the perpetrator.
Media descriptions of the incident indicate Kirk was struck in the neck. Ellen Treanor, a spokesperson for Utah Valley University, noted that the shots originated from a building approximately 200 yards from where Kirk was speaking. In response to the tragedy, the university announced the closure of its campus through September 14th, expressing profound grief and extending condolences to Kirk’s family and all those affected.
The event was part of the opening stop on a planned 15-city American Comeback Tour. At the time of the shooting, Kirk was seated at a “Prove Me Wrong Table,” engaging directly with audience questions, a format emblematic of his approach to public discourse.
This story was updated on September 10th to include new details regarding the release of the interrogated individual.
(Source: The Verge)
