OREM, Utah – President Trump ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University (UVU). This order is in effect until Sunday at 6 p.m.
Authorities are actively searching for the suspect involved in the targeted attack. The FBI, UVU Campus Police and Orem Police Department are conducting the manhunt.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox addressed the incident during a news conference, calling it a dark day for the state and a tragic day for the nation.
“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Cox said. “Charlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and a dad to two young children… he was also very much politically involved… and that’s why he was here on campus.”
Law enforcement was seen on the roof of a UVU building near the shooting site. Initial details have not clarified if the shooter was on the roof or on the ground.
Investigators reported that around 11:20 Pacific Time, a single shot was fired in an open meeting space on UVU’s campus. Kirk was holding a debate hosted by Turning Point USA as part of his “American Comeback Tour.”
CNN obtained video from Jeremy King showing the moments Kirk was escorted off the stage and into an SUV after the shooting. It was a chaotic scene as law enforcement tried to keep people away from Kirk. He was taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah, where he was later pronounced dead.
President Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social, sharing his sympathies with the family. Former President Barack Obama also expressed his condolences, stating, “this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.”
A livestream from Utah Valley University captured the moment shots were fired, causing thousands of students and attendees to run for safety. Witnesses at the event shared their experiences.
“I knew it was a gunshot, tucked behind the corner and then I saw all the crowd running as fast as they could and I was worried about people trampling each other,” said Angie Martin, an eyewitness. “I saw two girls, two college-age girls, one was having a panic attack, so I grabbed both of them because she was collapsing and rushed her down underneath the tunnel and got her to come down and put her in my car and got hold of her parents.”
“As soon as he was hit, he fell backwards, went to the side. The audience went to their knees. I stayed up a little bit because I wanted to see if anyone saw the shooting, if they would jump all over the guy. I saw nothing like that,” Darren Brunson, another eyewitness, said.
Meanwhile, a group of people dropped off flowers at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Arizona. One man appeared emotional as he handed over a hat with the number “47” on it and shook hands with someone outside the headquarters.
These events come just five months after Kirk visited Washington State University’s campus as part of his “American Comeback” tour. His visit drew a large crowd including students, community members and more than a dozen protesters.
