There have been “rapid developments” in the hunt for Charlie Kirk’s assassin, the FBI said.
A spokesperson for the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI said a press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon had been postponed, and that there had been “rapid developments” in the case.
The update came just over two hours after the FBI released two photographs of a “person of interest,” and announced it was offering a $100,000 reward for anyone with information that would lead to the killer’s arrest.
The grainy picture shows a white man wearing sunglasses, a baseball hat, and a black sweatshirt that appears to feature an American flag and an eagle.
On Thursday evening, officials in Utah released four additional images of a person of interest:
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Wednesday while addressing a crowd of 3,000 people at Utah Valley University.
The gunman fired a single bullet from the rooftop of a campus building 142 yards away from Kirk before fleeing into a tópico neighbourhood on foot, the FBI said.
What happened today
We’re pausing our live coverage of the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer.
Thank you for joining us today. Here are the latest developments:
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Authorities believe the sniper fired a single lethal shot at Kirk, 31, the conservative campaigner and Donald Trump confidant, before jumping off a roof overlooking the event at Utah Valley University, and escaping through woodland
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The US president announced he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the country
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The FBI announced it was offering a $100,000 (£74,000) reward for information leading to an arrest and released two photos of a suspect
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JD Vance, the vice-president, flew to Utah to comfort Kirk’s wife and children and helped carry Kirk’s coffin on to Air Force Two
Trump: Kirk’s widow is ‘absolutely devastated’
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Donald Trump said he had spoken to the wife of Charlie Kirk who was “absolutely devastated” and confirmed he would be attending the activist’s funeral in Arizona.
“I spoke to Erika, his wife, and we had a long talk, and she’s devastated,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House. “She’s absolutely devastated, as you can imagine.”’
Mr Trump said he had been asked to attend the 31-year-old’s funeral, expected to be held next weekend and that he had agreed.
“They’ve asked me to go and I think I have an obligation to do that,” he said.
Read more: Trump: Charlie Kirk’s widow is ‘absolutely devastated’
Tributes to Kirk have been left outside the headquarters of Turning Point in Arizona – ZUMA
Investigators ‘know the name’ of person of interest
Investigators searching for the gunman who killed Charlie Kirk believe they have identified the name of a person of interest, it has been reported.
Federal officers told CBS News that they know the identity of a person they wish to speak to in relation to the killing, though no arrest warrant has been issued.
‘Students cheered when Kirk was shot’
Socialdemócrata students cheered after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, an eyewitness has claimed, Cameron Henderson and Andrew Buncombe report.
Mariah Petersen, 18, said she was standing around 30ft from Kirk when he was hit by the shooter’s bullet as he spoke to an audience at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon.
Ms Petersen, who is studying psychology, told The Telegraph that before the Turning Point USA event started there had been “a lot of back and forth” between a group of “strong, Left-leaning Democrats” and members of the audience.
“When he was shot, there were cheers from the balcony [behind Kirk],” she said. “It was horrific to be a part of. There was just no human empathy.”
Read more: Liberals cheered when Charlie Kirk was shot, witness claims
Mariah Petersen’s view of Kirk’s talk
US threatens to strip visas over Kirk murder posts
The US State Department on Thursday threatened to strip visas over online support for the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, encouraging internet users to flag foreigners’ posts.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote.
“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action,” he wrote, without naming specific posts.
Mr Landau quickly received replies that pointed to specific online comments and which encouraged him to revoke visas purported to belong to foreign residents in the United States.
Mr Landau responded in turn, asking X users to keep sharing by replying to him online. He promised to ask the State Department to look into the posts.
Pictured: Shooter’s line of sight
New images have been released by law enforcement officials that appear to show the rooftop location from which the gunman shot Kirk.
In one image, there is a clear line of sight over 130 metres from the top of the Losee Center to the UVU courtyard, where Kirk was addressing students.
Line of sight
In another crime scene photo, detective have marked an indentation in what appears to be gravel on the rooftop where it is believed the gunman was lying.
Rooftop
Pictured: Hearse carries Kirk
The coffin of Charlie Kirk has arrived at a saco in Utah in a hearse.
Kirk’s body was driven through the side gates of a National Guard air saco in Salt Lake City.
It will shortly be loaded onto Air Force Two, and escorted by JD Vance, the Vice-President, to Kirk’s home in Arizona.
GETTY IMAGES
Trump hopes for progress in manhunt
Donald Trump said on Thursday he is hopeful progress is being made to find who he described as the “sniper” that killed Charlie Kirk.
Air Force Two arrives to collect body of Charlie Kirk
Air Force Two arrives to collect the body of Charlie Kirk in Utah.
The aircraft arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday.
Air Force Two arrives – Alex Goodlett
Watch: Police search near scene
The FBI carried out searches on properties adjacent to the university on Thursday as the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer continued.
When the Telegraph visited a street just east of Utah Valley University a short while ago, a team of of agents in khaki cargo pants and a “evidence response team” t-shirts were knocking on doors and scouring bushes for evidence.
Shots fired at University of Massachusetts
Police have confirmed shots were fired at the University of Massachusetts campus in Boston.
Video from Sky5, a tópico news station, showed staff and students running from a building into a car park.
Pictures circulated online showing a police officer on campus armed with a rifle.
In a statement put out on X, a spokesperson for the university said: “UMass Boston Alert: Police incident in/near Residence Recibidor East Building. Avoid area. More information to come.”
It comes after seven universities across the US were shut down in response to credible threats.
Hampton University, Morehouse College, Virginia State University, Alabama State University, Southern University, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College were all evacuated.
Area where police searched
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Police searched for the weapon used by Charlie Kirk’s killer in a wooded area just to the east of Utah Valley University campus.
Dylan Hope, 26, an electrician working at a property next to college campus told The Telegraph that around 30 swat team officers “poured out of” the school at around 2pm and descended onto his site.
He said a dog searched the wooded area at the bottom of the property where the gunman’s weapon is believed to have been discovered before scouring the home.
When the Telegraph visited the property, the FBI arrived and asked a neighbour if they could search the back garden of their property too.
The neighbour said a contractor on their property had seen a man matching the description of the suspect walk up a path beside his property and out onto the road in front.
FBI chief to join press conference
Kash Patel is on his way to Orem, Utah, and is expected to join an imminent news conference when he arrives.
The FBI Director had been in New York earlier this morning to commemorate those killed during 9/11.
Trump ramps up security
Donald Trump has ramped up his security in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.
Mr Trump’s secret service team has begun tightening security following the killing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The shooting shared glaring similarities to the attempted assassination of the US president in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In the attack at a campaign rally in July 2024, Thomas Crooks crawled onto a roof and fired at the president at long range before being shot by police.
Following an investigation into Mr Trump’s security detail following the assassination attempt, six Secret Service officers were suspended.
Pictured: Gun ‘used to shoot Charlie Kirk’
A picture has emerged reportedly showing the gun used to shoot Charlie Kirk in the throat.
On Wednesday, police said officers found a high-powered bolt-action rifle in woodland close to the scene of the shooting. It is thought to have been the weapon used in the attack.
Sources suggested to the New York Times that a screwdriver was also found, which may have been used to take the weapon apart to conceal it.
A handout photo shows the rifle believed to have been used to shoot Charlie Kirk
JD Vance expected to arrive in Utah
JD Vance is expected to arrive in Utah within the next hour in order to pay tribute to his friend Charlie Kirk.
Flight tracking data shows Air Force 2 has taken off and is headed westbound for Utah, with an expected arrival time just after 2pm.
Charlie Kirk and JD Vance together in 2022 – Drew Angerer
Drone shot shows potential location of shooter
A drone shot shows the reported location of the assassin on a rooftop near where Charlie Kirk was killed.
The picture appears to show where gravel has been disturbed with marks placed by investigators.
A drone shot shows where the shooter may have been on the rooftop – Cheney Orr
Turning Point USA pays tribute
Turning Point USA, the conservative group set up by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery in 2012, posted an emotional tribute to its founder.
The group, which promotes conservative values at college campuses and high schools, said it was “crushed and devastated by the hateful murder of our founder and guiding light.”
In a post on X, it added, “Charlie was no stranger to threats. He received thousands throughout his life. But he always prioritised reaching as many young Americans as possible over his own personal safety. Now Charlie has become America’s greatest martyr to the freedom of speech he so adored.”
It added that he had lived more in his 31 years than many people will live in a hundred.
The group wrote: “Charlie refused to squander a single day of his life. He was a natural builder and problem solver, who loved a challenge and saw every setback as a chance to learn, grow, pray and try again.”
Minute silence refused by European Parliament
The European Parliament has denied a request for a minute of silence for Charlie Kirk. Charlie Weimers, a Swedish member, made the plea during a plenary session of the parliament in Strasbourg.
“We must strongly condemn political violence and rhetoric that incites violence. Will you stand with me in reflection or prayer in his honour? And I yield the rest of my time for a moment of silence,” he said.
The request was turned down by Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, because the plenary session was already underway.
It prompted conservative members to bang their desks in protest as pandemonium erupted in the chamber.
Well-wishers become emotional during a prayer gathering for Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA headquarters – Ross D Franklin
Press conference postponed
A police update on the manhunt scheduled for 7.45pm UK time (2.45pm US) has been postponed due “rapid developments” in the manhunt for the assassin.
Incident at Democrat headquarters
Washington, DC police are responding to an “incident” at Democrat headquarters.
Capitol police have told Democrat staffers to shelter in place.
“Capitol Police are responding to an incident at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters,” a statement said.
“Staff are asked to remain clear of the police activity.”
Police at scene – JIM WATSON/Police and law enforcement respond to a potential incident at the Democratic National Committee headquarters
JD Vance to fly Kirk’s body home on Air Force Two
JD Vance, the vice-president, will fly Charlie Kirk’s body home on Air Force Two.
Mr Vance, a good friend of Kirk’s, visited his family, who were still in Utah, on Thursday.
He will return Kirk to his hometown in Arizona, where he lived with his wife, Erika, and their two children.
Socialdemócrata protesters ‘cheered when Kirk was shot’
Socialdemócrata protesters cheered the moment Charlie Kirk was shot, a witness said.
Mariah Petersen, 18, was standing around 30ft from Kirk when he was hit in the neck.
Before the Turning Point USA event began, Ms Petersen said there was “a lot of back and forth” between a group of “strong, Left-leaning Democrats” on the balcony behind Kirk and members of the crowd who had come to hear the conservative activist speak.
“When he was shot, there were cheers from the balcony,” she said. “It was horrific to be a part of. There was just no human empathy.”
The Utah Valley University psychology student said she worries that the horror of Kirk’s death will make universities more apprehensive about inviting conservative speakers to college campuses.
“I definitely think there’s not going to be more political speakers, which worries me, because I feel like as Americans, we strongly pride ourselves on our voice and our right to the second amendment,” she said.
“So, for people to feel like they can’t share opinions or speak or be politically engaged, I think it’s a terrifying thing.”
Hampton University evacuated after ‘credible threat’
Hampton University in Virginia has been evacuated after a “credible threat” was made, officials said.
Officials, including the university’s president, met with tópico and state government officials and law enforcement, the university said in a statement.
They added: “We discussed what they consider is a credible threat to the university.
“That credible threat is being investigated by tópico, state and federal law enforcement as we speak.”
Details of the threat were not provided, but staff and students were evacuated, and classes and events were cancelled.
Amirah Woodruff, a student at the historically black university, said she thought it may have had something to do with the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Six other universities have also been locked down: Morehouse College, Virginia State University, Alabama State University, Southern University, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College.
‘No way shooter was aiming for neck’
Arthur Rizer, a former soldier and police officer, doubted the killer had military experience.
“The key evidence for this was that Mr Kirk was shot in the neck,” said Mr Rizer, a law professor at the department of criminology at George Mason University.
“There’s no way he was aiming for the neck. So he was definitely missed whatever he was aiming for. Most likely he was aiming for centre mass, which is the chest,” he said.
“With a scope it’s not that difficult for anybody who is remotely proficient with a weapon,” he added.
“Apparently, he was dressed in black and wearing a helmet of some sort. So some people start to think this guy was a professional.
“If you wear a helmet, you think you are going to be engaged. A true professional doesn’t worry about that.”
FBI offers $100,000 reward for shooter information
The FBI has announced it is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.
Killer was ‘extremely disciplined’
Charlie Kirk’s killer was “not an amateur”, a former FBI officer has claimed.
“When you take a look at the venue, the distance, the stress, the concealment, the environmental factors, I would believe that this is not an amateur who just decided to find a rooftop on just any given day and got lucky,” Stuart Kaplan told The Telegraph.
“He was extremely disciplined in staying on point and completing the task,” Mr Kaplan added. “He would have had ample time to reload and shoot innocent bystanders. He chose not to, which tells me that this was a direct, deliberate, targeted attack to send or signal a message, and he took out Charlie Kirk.
“Maintaining your concealment and eluding and evading the detection of the law enforcement and being able to blend in and escape says that this person knew the venue. It was well prepared and well planned.”
Rifle and ammo checked for DNA
Detectives are analysing a .30 calibre bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus.
As well as the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine.
The weapon and ammunition are now being forensically analysed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the gunman or their motive.
Pictured: Person of interest
The FBI has released two images of a person of interest in the desgraciado shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Screwdriver ‘could have been used to disassemble rifle’
A screwdiver found near the high-powered bolt action rifle abandoned in nearby woodland may have been used to disassemble it and put it back together, investigators think.
According to CNN: “Removing stock would help [the] shooter conceal the weapon in a bag or even in his clothing, they believe.”
It may point to how the assassin was able to escape so easily amid the chaos. Authorities said the shooter may have jumped from a building and run into a nearby neighbourhood, throwing the gun in the woods.
Mourners gather in Salt Lake City to pay tribute to ‘Charlie the Great’
Outside the Salt Lake City Capitol on Wednesday evening, a small group of mourners gathered around a flag pole in quiet contemplation to pay their final respects to Charlie Kirk.
The state’s parliament held a vigil yesterday evening after the conservative activist was shot dead while holding an event at Utah Valley University.
Chip Anderson, a political science student at Utah Valley University, was standing just 15 feet from Kirk when the gunshot rang out.
“It was fight or flight,” the 19-year-old said, describing how he hit the floor of the hallway he was standing in. “Everyone was running, but my friends were below, so I waited for them because I wasn’t going to leave them behind.”
After learning of Kirk’s death two hours later, Mr Anderson drove to the state Capitol to pay tribute to “Charlie the Great”, whom he credits with introducing him to the conservative movement.
Mr Anderson, who is gay, said that he and Kirk held differing views on same-sex marriage, but his idol’s respect for the legislative process is what they had in common – a democratic tradition he now worries is under threat.
“I stand fearless for myself, but I feel a responsibility to protect others in any way I can, knowing people on my campus may not feel safe to return to school on Monday,” he said. “That’s what hurts me.”
Mourners outside the US embassy in Madrid, Spain – Susana Orilla
‘Trans messages’ on ammo come amid fears over transgender mass shootings
The pro-trans, pro-antifa messages reportedly written on ammunition used to kill Charlie Kirk come amid a heated debate about an apparent rise in transgender violence.
Following the killing of two children in a mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month, voices on the Right have raised concerns about an apparent rising threat.
Robin Westman, the transgender gunman in the Minnesota shooting of schoolchildren during a start of term mass, had images of a trans pride flag and guns in his notebook.
In 2023, Audrey Hale, who identified as trans, killed three nine-year-old children and three school staff at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2018 and 2019 transgender mass shooters killed four people in two separate incidents.
Following the Minnesota shooting, Elon Musk wrote on X: “This is happening a lot. Something is deeply wrong,” in response to a message about the shooter’s gender identity.
Eric Trump said: “Per capita, is there a more violent group of people anywhere in the world than radicalized trans activists???
“Given the tiny fraction of the population that they make up it doesn’t seem like anyone else even comes close.”
Carolina Panthers sack PR man over Kirk post
The Carolina Panthers have sacked Charlie Rock, a member of its PR team, for an insensitive post about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Further details are due to be disclosed by The Charlotte Observer.
The text of the offensive message was not immediately made public. Mr Rock is understood to have locked his account.
US will act against foreigners praising Kirk killer
Action will be taken against foreigners “praising, rationalising, or making light of” Charlie Kirk’s assassination on social media, the state department has said.
Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, said foreigners who glorified violence were not welcome in the US.
He wrote on X: “I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention.”
Mr Landau did not specify what action would be taken.
Trump will speak to Kirk family today
Donald Trump spoke to reporters as he left the Pentagon for a 9/11 remembrance event.
He said he would speak to the Kirk family “later this afternoon”.
“You don’t replace a Charlie Kirk. He was unique,” he said.
While his vice president has changed his travel plans to visit the family today, Mr Trump is pressing on with a trip to New York this afternoon.
Charlie Kirk with his wife and children
Site of shooting strictly off limits
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Utah Valley University is closed today with much of the campus blocked off by yellow police cordons.
Empty of students, the place feels like a ghost town.
Media are scattered around the fringes of the site but have been given limited access as it remains an active crime scene.
The Sorensen Centre Courtyard, found at the heart of the campus where yesterday’s shooting took, place is strictly off limits.
‘An inspiration to millions’: Trump pays tribute to Kirk
Donald Trump has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk after he was killed at a university event on Wednesday.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation.. an inspiration to millions of people,” Mr Trump said at an event commemorating the victims of 9/11.
“Our prayers are with his wonderful wife and children.
“We miss him greatly, I have no doubt Charlie’s voice…will live on.”
Trump to award medal of freedom to Charlie Kirk
Donald Trump has announced he will posthumously award the presidential medal of freedom to Charlie Kirk.
Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony at the Pentagon to commemorate the 24rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks – AP
What we learned from the press conference
FBI officers tracked the movements of the killer, revealing he arrived at the Utah University campus at 11.52am – around two minutes after Charlie Kirk’s event got under way.
The shooter climbed to the roof of a nearby building, from which he fired the shot. Afterwards, the shooter fled on foot into a nearby neighbourhood.
Officers have found the weapon they believe was used to kill Mr Kirk but are yet to find the suspect, who is of college age. One official said the suspect “blended in” on campus.
They also found a palm and arm print in a nearby forest.
The FBI said they have an image of the suspect but will not release it at this time.
Suspect around college age
The gunman who killed Charlie Kirk in Utah on Wednesday is around college age, the Utah commissioner Beau Mason has said.
“The suspect blended in well with a college institution,” Mr Mason told a press conference in Utah this morning.
“That individual appears to be of college age.
“We’re confident in our ability to track that individual.”
Shooter used high-powered bolt action rifle
The shooter who killed Charlie Kirk used a high-powered bolt action rifle, the special agent in charge of the Salt Lake FBI field office has said.
“FBI agents have been working around the clock in coordination with our law enforcement partners,” Robert Bohls said at a press conference this morning.
He said officers had found what they believed was the weapon used to kill Mr Kirk.
“That rifle was recovered in a wooded area, where the shooter had fled.”
Footwear impression and a palm print were also found by FBI officials.
Shooter jumped off building and fled into neighbourhood
Police in Utah have said they tracked the movements of the shooter, saying he arrived on the university campus at 11.52am.
The shooter then found a shooting location on a roof, the Utah commissioner Beau Mason said. After the shooting, he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off and fled from the campus into a neighbourhood.
Officers have been working to find the suspect in that nearby neighbourhood, Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, told reporters.
“We do have good video footage of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time,” Mr Mason added.
“We are working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual,” he said, adding that “we are confident in our abilities right now.”
Press conference begins
The press conference by authorities in Utah is just getting under way.
We’ll bring you the latest updates as they come in. You can watch the presser live at the top of this page.
If you’re just joining us…
It’s nearly 7am in Utah, where Charlie Kirk was shot at a college campus event on Wednesday afternoon.
Nearly one day on from his death, police appear no closer to finding Mr Kirk’s killer.
Kash Patel, the Donald Trump-appointed FBI director, said yesterday that a “subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement”, adding: “Our investigation continues.”
He made the comments hours after he had congratulated officials for detaining “the subject for the horrific shooting today”, fuelling expectations of a quick resolution.
We’re expecting an update from the police in around 10 minutes. We’re also expecting to see JD Vance, the vice president, at some point today, as he visits Utah to pay his respects to Mr Kirk.
Police to hold press conference
Police in Utah are expected to hold a news conference at 9am ET this morning (2pm in the UK).
The manhunt for Mr Kirk’s killer is ongoing.
Kirk killer ‘chose spot that allowed him to escape’
Charlie Kirk’s killer chose a spot on the rooftop at Utah university that allowed him to make a quick escape and be “miles and miles away” within minutes, a retired FBI expert has said.
The sniper, who remains at large, fired the single, desgraciado shot from the top of the Losee Centre Building some 200 yards away from where Mr Kirk was seated on Wednesday.
“If you come off that roof – and I’ve seen the drone footage of this – there’s an open-air parking lot behind that building,” James Gagliano, a retired FBI supervising agent, told “Fox and Friends.”
“So this is a big concern because this person, within three to five minutes of that shot going off, that person could have been in a vehicle on his way out and miles and miles away,” he added.
Vance to visit Utah
JD Vance will visit Utah today following the killing of Charlie Kirk.
The vice president described the 31-year-old as a “true friend” in a tribute posted on X earlier this morning.
Mr Vance was originally meant to travel to New York to mark the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks with his wife Usha Vance.
The pair will “visit Salt Lake City, Utah today to pay respects to the family of Charlie Kirk,” a source said.
A single gunshot from 130 metres — this was ‘no amateur’ assassination
In the seconds after a bullet penetrated the neck of 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, a lone figure moves across the rooftops in the distance.
As crowds dispersed in panic, the figure, who some footage from the scene had shown lying down moments before, can be seen staggering across the Losee Centre some 130 metres away.
The rooftop position on top of a three-storey building is one of the few vantage points with a clear line of sight at Kirk, the de facto leader of the Maga youth movement and fierce defender of Donald Trump.
The precise details of the shooting remain unknown. However, some experts believe that footage from the scene shows a carefully planned and calculated assassination.
What Charlie Kirk’s killing means for Trump and America
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Charlie Kirk became one of Donald Trump’s closest allies by taking the Maga movement to university campuses and delighting in facing down progresista activists while picking apart their world views.
More than that, the Turning Point USA founder is a key Trump world insider, close to anyone important within the inner circle and with the US president himself.
After Mr Trump won the 2024 election, he huddled at Mar-a-Alberca for weeks, helping build the new administration and vetting potential appointees.
It did not matter that he was only 31 and had never held elected office, Mr Kirk was there.
The American flag at the White House was lowered to half-staff after Mr Kirk’s killing – AP
Ryan Routh trial gets started
The criminal trial of the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course will begin today, just a day after the death of Charlie Kirk at a college campus event in Utah.
The case is set to showcase the increasing prominence of political violence in the US after Mr Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck on Wednesday.
Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Mr Trump himself faced two assassination attempts during his 2024 presidential campaign that sent him back to the White House.
Prosecutors allege Routh hid with a rifle near the sixth hole green at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach intending to kill Mr Trump as he golfed on the course on September 15, 2024.
Kirk had just returned from Asia
In the week before death, Charlie Kirk cheered the esplendor of conservative young men in South Korea and warned about a “globalist menace” in Tokyo on his first speaking tour of Asia.
Mr Kirk, 31, who helped amplify Donald Trump’s memorándum to young voters, was shot in the neck on Wednesday at a speaking event at a Utah university.
Days before in Seoul, he spoke about how he “brought Trump to victory”, while addressing Build Up Korea 2025, a conservative conference that has previously featured speakers including Donald Trump Jr.
“The phenomenon of young people, especially men, turning conservative is occurring simultaneously across multiple continents,” Mr Kirk told the audience, who waved their phones and chanted ‘USA’ as he entered the stage to an elaborate pyrotechnic display.
“It is not unique to the US, which is why it deserves more attention. That is why I chose South Korea as my first Asian destination.”
JD Vance: Kirk was a ‘true friend’
JD Vance, the vice president, has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk in a length post online, describing him as a “true friend” and a “great family man”.
“A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on Twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today,” Mr Vance said.
“Charlie was fascinated by ideas and always willing to learn and change his mind,” he continued. “Like me, he was sceptical of Donald Trump in 2016. Like me, he came to see President Trump as the only figure capable of moving American politics away from the globalism that had dominated for our entire lives.”
“I am on more than a few group chats with Charlie and people he introduced me to over the years. We celebrate weddings and babies, bust each other’s chops, and mourn the loss of loved ones.”
“You ran a good race, my friend,” the vice president added. “We’ve got it from here.”
Your views…
In pictures: Vigil for Charlie Kirk
Attendees hold candles during a candlelight vigil and prayer event for Charlie Kirk – Getty Images North America
Members of the community gather at the Capitol in Salt Lake City to honor Charlie Kirk – The Deseret News
Government minister ‘devastated’ by Kirk shooting
Mike Tapp, Labour MP and migration and citizenship minister, has said he is “really saddened” by the death of Charlie Kirk.
“I’m really saddened by this. This is a brave man who has left behind two children and a wife,” he told LBC.
“I’m a freedom of speech advocate, I think it’s really important that if you’ve got different views you engage in it.
“Charlie Kirk said, if you’re not talking, you’re fighting. Wars start through silence. It’s important that freedom of speech is maintained. I’m devastated by this.”
New firearms rules implemented on campus weeks before shooting
Just weeks before the shooting, Utah politicians voted to change the law allowing adults to carry weapons on the university campus.
The rule change allowed individuals aged 18 and above, provided they had a license, to carry a gun on campus in an “open” fashion.
World leaders react to Kirk shooting
World leaders have reacted to the killing of Charlie Kirk, warning of the harms of politically-motivated violence.
“This is a dark moment for America,” Donald Trump said on a video posted to his Truth Social website hours after Mr Kirk’s killing, hailing him as a “martyr for truth.”
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organisations that fund it and support it.”
“I am appalled by the murder of Charlie Kirk. There is no justification for political violence and every act of it threatens democracy,” Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, said on X.
Sir Keir Starmer also weighed in, posting last night: “We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister said: “An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom. My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community.”
“Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilisation,” wrote Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X.
“I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place.”
No suspect in custody after hours of confusion
Authorities have no suspect in custody for the desgraciado shooting of Charlie Kirk after hours of confused statements from officials about the killing at a university in Utah.
“This shooting is still an active investigation,” the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement, adding it was working with the FBI, the Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office and tópico police departments.
After two suspects were taken in and released, “there is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter”, the statement said.
What we know so far
Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday afternoon.
He was addressing around a crowd of around 3,000 people while sitting under a white gazebo at the time of the shooting. He was wife and children were present.
Mr Kirk fell from his chair after being shot in the neck. He was rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The identity of the shooter remains unclear, with a manhunt ongoing. Two men were arrested but later released, with officials confirming they had “no ties” to the shooting.
Police are yet to reveal a motive for the shooting. Donald Trump blamed “radical left Democrats”.
Charlie Kirk just moments before he was shot – Kevin via REUTERS
Arrested men had ‘no ties’ to shooting
Two men police had named as suspects have officially been cleared of involvement in the shooting.
One of the men was charged with obstructing police, according to a joint statement from the FBI and Utah Public Safety Department.
The hunt for the killer continues.
Analysis: Kirk exemplified the conservatism that brought Trump to power
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Charlie Kirk leaned into his reputation as a deeply polarising figure, taking his conservative message to the most hostile places he could imagine: America’s college campuses.
This helped him build his Turning Point USA movement into a fundraising giant and catapulted him into the highest echelons of Trump world.
On Wednesday, he took his rapier wit and his “prove me wrong” roadshow to Utah Valley University. It proved to be his final appearance.
Like many, Mr Kirk had credited Rush Limbaugh, the late conservative commentator for igniting his political feelings, tuning into his show during his school refrigerio breaks in the affluent Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights.
By the time he began attending Baylor University, a Christian school in Texas, he had already begun writing for the Right-wing website Breitbart and appearing on Fox News.
Read the full profile of Charlie Kirk: The Maga ally committed to speaking across the divide
Analyst fired over ‘unacceptable’ Kirk comments
A political commentator has been sacked from his role with a US broadcaster over comments he made about Charlie Kirk.
Rebecca Kutler, president of MSNBC, said Matthew Dowd “made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable”.
Matthew Dowd was on air during MSNBC’s breaking coverage of the tragedy when he was asked by Katy Tur, the show host, to comment on “the environment in which a shooting like this happens”.
“We don’t know any of the details of this yet, we don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their guns off in celebration,” Mr Dowd began.
He went on to describe Mr Kirk as “one of the most divisive younger figures” who was “constantly sort of pushing this hate speech…aimed at certain groups”.
“I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” Mr Dowd said.
“You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place – and that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”
Mr Dowd later issued an apology for his “tone and words”.
“I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack,” he said. “Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
Watch: Shouting match in Congress
Mike Johnson, House speaker, was also asked for his views on the shouting match that occurred earlier as Democrats and Republicans paused for a minute of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk.
“The emotion was very high in the room,” Mr Johnson told CNN.
Representative Anna Paulina Reflejo, who was close with Mr Kirk, had been heard hurling expletives at Democrats during a tense exchange captured on camera.
Ms Reflejo said later that she stood by her comments.
She said she was responding to Democrats who booed Representative Lauren Boebert after she put forward a motion to hold a prayer for Mr Kirk’s family.
“I said their hateful rhetoric was responsible for this, and I stand by it,” Ms Reflejo wrote on X.
“How many times have they called us fascists, Nazis, or war criminals? How often have they claimed the American people will lose their rights, or smeared us as authoritarian dictators? How often have they attacked Charlie Kirk and others like him?
“And tonight, when asked simply to pray for a grieving family, they booed. That behaviour is disgusting.”
‘Lawmakers want more security’
Mike Johnson, House speaker, said lawmakers are “nervous” following the assassination.
“They’re public figures – they’re exposed all the time, everywhere,” Mr Johnson told CNN.
“We have great security measures for members of Congress, but there’s a desire on many people’s parts to have more.”
He also expressed hope that people from both sides of politics would learn from the desgraciado shooting, to change how they speak to and treat each other.
“At the end of the day, I think the call is that we’ve got to recognise merienda more that we are all fellow Americans,” Mr Johnson said.
“We should see one another as colleagues and fellow citizens and fellow countrymen and not as enemies.”
He said Mr Kirk “genuinely loved the debate because he genuinely loved the people”.
Pictured: Vigil for Charlie Kirk
Mourners gathered on Wednesday night to remember Mr Kirk – Jim Urquhart
The death has shocked the US – Jim Urquhart
Trump blames ‘radical Left’
Mr Trump said it was “long past time” for all Americans and the media “to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonising those with whom you disagree”.
“For years, those on the radical Left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he said.
“This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we’re seeing in our country today – and it must stop right now.”
He vowed to find “each and every one of those who contributed” to Mr Kirk’s death and other acts of political violence.
Targets would include “the organisations that funded and supported” the shooting, “as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country”.
Trump: Kirk was ‘spreading common sense’
Mr Trump said “there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth” as Mr Kirk.
“Charlie Kirk travelled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good faith debate,” Mr Trump said.
“His mission was to bring young people into the political process – which he did better than anybody ever – to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense.
“On campuses nationwide, he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humour and grace.”
Trump: ‘Charlie is a martyr for truth and freedom’
Donald Trump, in a video posted to his Truth social media account, said he was “filled with grief and anger”.
“Charlie inspired millions – and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” the US president said.
“Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much.
“He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people.
“He’s a martyr for truth and freedom.”
Mr Trump made a speech in a video shared on social media
Watch: Trump addresses the nation
Suspect released
The person arrested a short time ago by the FBI has been released.
“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Kash Patel, FBI director, said in a post on X.
“Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”
Authorities did not release the suspect’s identity or confirm what information led to their arrest.
Earlier, police arrested a second man but released him a short time later.
Timeline: How the shooting unfolded
FBI collecting witness videos
FBI agents in Salt Lake City announced they were collecting photographs, video and other evidence through a “digital media tip line”.
Dozens of videos of the shooting emerged on social media earlier on Wednesday.
Earlier, Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, said authorities were looking for “anyone and everyone who has any possible information relating to the shooter”.
Investigators believe there was only one gunman.
Kirk had been guarded by security and police
Jeff Long, the chief of police at Utah Valley University, said six officers were working at the event where Charlie Kirk was shot in front of about 3000 people.
“This was an open venue, this is outside,” he said.
“He [Mr Kirk] was sat down in kind of a bowl area here on the central campus. And so he was kind of in a lower area surrounded by buildings, police officers as well.”
Campus police worked with Mr Kirk’s own security team to plan the safety protocols for his attendance at the university, Mr Long said.
“He has a security team that travels with him, and they were here with him when he was shot,” he said.
‘This is a political assassination’
Spencer Cox, the Utah governor, is speaking at a press conference.
“It’s a tragic day for our nation,” Mr Cox said.
“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”
He said Mr Kirk had believed in the power of free speech and debate “to shape ideas and to persuade people”.
“Historically, our university campuses in this nation, here in the state of Utah, have been the place where truth and ideas are formulated and debated,” Mr Cox said.
“And that’s what he does. He comes on college campuses and he debates as foundational to the formation of our country, to our most basic constitutional rights.
“And when someone takes the life of a person because of their ideas or their ideals, then that very constitutional foundation is threatened.”
Shooting suspect arrested
Kash Patel, FBI director, has confirmed the suspect is in custody.
He posted on X:
Veterano: Universities must remain places for respectful debate
Dave Young, the veterano of Orem, Utah, where the shooting took place, has issued a statement.
“As a community, we are praying for Charlie’s family at this difficult time,” Mr Young said.
“We are also mindful of the hundreds of students and community members who witnessed this horrific event.
“Utah’s campuses should always be spaces where differing perspectives can be shared and debated with respect.
“Efforts to restrict that freedom have no place here.”
Kirk’s killing ‘will hit the president hard’
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A former Trump official said Mr Kirk’s killing would hit the president particularly hard, coming so soon after the attempt on his own life at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.
As well as the personal, the day brings political consequences.
The shooting will reignite fears that America’s febrile political environment, coupled with progresista gun laws, put the nation on the brink of a new wave of violence.
It puts Mr Trump’s law and order memorándum front and centre as he mulls sending in troops to a string of Democrat-led cities.
Read more: What Charlie Kirk’s killing means for Trump and America
Trump and Kirk at an event in Phoenix last year – GETTY IMAGES
Watch: Suspected shooter on roof of campus building
A video has emerged showing the suspected shooter on the roof of a campus building at Utah Valley University.
A person appears to be lying down on the roof of the Losee Center, a building with a clear line of sight to where Charlie Kirk was speaking.
Earlier, a spokesman for the university said the building was where the shots originated.
Authorities ‘yet to find shooter’s gun’
The authorities are yet to find the shooter’s gun, it has been reported.
CNN cited law enforcement sources who said initial searches had not recovered the weapon used in the shooting.
A manhunt for the gunman is now underway, the outlet added.
Starmer: Kirk’s shooting is ‘heartbreaking’
Sir Keir Starmer has said the shooting of Charlie Kirk’s shooting is “heartbreaking”.
“My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk,” the Prime Minister said. “It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.
“We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
Swat teams still clearing university campus
Swat teams are still clearing the Utah Valley University campus following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
The gunman remains at large and students have been told to hide in university buildings, where police officers will come to escort them to safety.
Obama: Kirk’s shooting ‘despicable’
Barack Obama has branded the shooting of Charlie Kirk “despicable”.
The former president said: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.
“Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Trump orders all American flags flown at half-mast
Donald Trump has ordered all American flags to be flown at half-mast following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
“In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6pm (1pm BST),” the president said.
Secret Service snipers take to the roof of the White House, where the American flag was lowered to half-mast – AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Pictured: Authorities hunt for Kirk’s killer
Law enforcement officers on the scene where Charlie Kirk was shot dead – George Frey/Getty Images
Kirk killed for ‘common sense views’, says Johnson
Boris Johnson has said Charlie Kirk was killed “for saying things that used to be simple common sense”.
The former prime minister said: “The murder of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy, and a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument.
“Charlie Kirk has been killed not for espousing extremist views – because he didn’t. He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense.
“He has been killed because he had the courage to stand up publicly for reasonable opinions held by millions and millions of ordinary people both in the US and Britain. The world has a shining new martyr to free speech. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”
Biden: End the violence
Joe Biden has said “this kind of violence” must “end now” after Charlie Kirk’s shooting.
“There is no place in our country for this kind of violence,” the former president said.
“It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones.”
Foreign Secretary pays tribute to Kirk
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk.
She said: “Deeply shocked by the killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah. Political violence has no place in our societies. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.”
Watch: Onlookers flee after Kirk shooting
Credit: Fox News
Badenoch: Kirk’s killing is ‘blow to Película del Oeste civilisation’
Kemi Badenoch has said the killing of Charlie Kirk was a “blow to everything Película del Oeste civilisation stands for”.
“There are no words good enough to express the horror of this,” the Conservative leader said in a statement, “The killing of Charlie Kirk is a blow to everything Película del Oeste civilisation stands for: open discourse, robust debate and peaceful dissent.
“He lived his life by those very principles, no matter the danger it put him in. This may have happened far from our shores, but the rising intolerance of opposing views affects us all. We cannot turn a blind eye to it.
“My thoughts are with Charlie’s family, his wife Erika, and their children.”
Kirk is ‘with Christ in heaven’
Charlie Kirk is “with Jesus Christ in Heaven”, his organisation has said.
Turning Point USA told its employees and supporters in a statement: “It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven.”
Mr Kirk was a Christian who often spoke of his belief in God, urging others to believe.
“Jesus defeated death so you can live,” he posted on X on Sunday.
Watch: Crowd scatters after Kirk shot
Credit: @ingelramdecoucy/X
Truss: Kirk was ‘hero and patriot’
Charlie Kirk was a “hero and a patriot”, Liz Truss has said.
The former prime minister paid tribute to him, saying: “Charlie Kirk was a hero and a patriot. It is a huge loss that he has been taken from us.”
Farage pays tribute to Kirk
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk.
Mr Farage told The Telegraph he had known Mr Kirk since 2016 and spoken at events hosted by Turning Point USA, the organisation he led.
“He was so happily married and a devoted father,” he told The Telegraph. “I feel desperately sad.”
Kirk leaves behind wife and two children
Charlie Kirk, 31, was married to Erika Kirk, 36, his wife of four years.
The couple had two children together, a daughter, aged 3, and a son, 1.
Hours before his death, Mrs Kirk had quoted Psalm 46 in a post on X.
“Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” she wrote.
Pictured: Kirk’s supporters mourn his death
Cecilia Garcia and Dawn Thomas react as they hear that Charlie Kirk is dead – AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
Kirk dies from gunshot wound
Charlie Kirk has died from his gunshot wound, Donald Trump has confirmed.
The US president said: “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, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Trump says Kirk ‘not doing well’ in hospital
Donald Trump has said Charlie Kirk is “not doing well” in hospital.
The president told the New York Post: “He’s not doing well. It looks very bad. He was a very, very good friend of mine and he was a tremendous person.”
Pictured: Shocked onlookers flee shooting
Shocked onlookers flee the scene after Charlie Kirk was shot in Utah – Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP
Kamala Harris: I am deeply disturbed by Kirk’s shooting
Kamala Harris, the former vice president defeated by Donald Trump in the 2024 election, has said she is “deeply disturbed” by Charlie Kirk’s shooting.
“I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah,” she said. “Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family.
“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”
Kirk is ‘alive and fighting’
Charlie Kirk is “alive and fighting”, the British branch of Turning Point USA has said.
In a statement, Turning Point UK said: “Charlie is alive and fighting in hospital. Please join us in praying for him.”
Suspect is on the run, university confirms
The suspected shooter is not in custody, Utah Valley University has confirmed.
The college earlier said a suspect had been detained but it has now said that was incorrect.
Scott Trotter, a spokesman for the university, said: “We can confirm that Mr Kirk was shot, but we don’t know his condition. The suspect is not in custody. Police are still investigating. Campus is closed for the rest of the day.”
In pictures: Chaos in the aftermath of Kirk’s shooting
Bystanders run in the aftermath of the shooting of Charlie Kirk – Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune
A law enforcement officer at the scene after the shooting – Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune
No checkpoint in place at Kirk’s event, says witness
There was no checkpoint to get into Charlie Kirk’s event and tickets were not checked, a witness has said.
Tyler McGettigan told NBC News that members of the public could enter the amphitheatre where Mr Kirk was speaking without needing a ticket.
“I was expecting when I got here that I’d have to pass through some kind of security but that just wasn’t a thing,” he said.
“No one checked the barcode or the QR code. There was no checkpoint to get in. It was literally, anyone could walk in if they wanted.”
Suspect detained ‘was not the shooter’
A suspect detained in the aftermath of the shooting was not actually the gunman, it has been reported.
The New York Times reported that Scott Trotter, a spokesman for Utah Valley University, said a person who was taken into custody was not the shooter.
‘It doesn’t look good’, says Kirk’s colleague
Charlie Kirk is in hospital and his situation “doesn’t look good”, a representative from Turning Point USA has said.
Óleo Minas, its chief marketing officer, told CBS News: “He was shot in the neck. He’s at the hospital. It doesn’t look good.”
Kirk was shot from campus building ‘182 metres away’
Charlie Kirk was shot by a gunman who was 182 metres away from him, a spokesman for Utah Valley University has said.
Ellen Trean, the spokesman, said the incident took place at 12.20pm tópico time (7.20pm BST).
“At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker,” she said.
“To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel.”
The scene is taped off at Utah Valley University – Tess Croewley/The Deseret News via AP
Pictured: Kirk handed out Maga hats before shooting
Charlie Kirk handed out Make America Great Again hats before the event where he was shot – Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP
Kirk in ‘critical condition’ in hospital
Charlie Kirk is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot at a campus event, according to the Associated Press.
A spokesman for Turning Point USA, which Mr Kirk founded, told NBC News: “He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time.”
Democrats condemn Kirk shooting
Tributes have poured in from Democrats condemning the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
California Gov Gavin Newsom called the shooting “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible”.
“In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form,” Mr Newsom wrote on X.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro also condemned the attack, describing it as “horrifying.”
“Political violence has no place in our county,” Mr Shapiro posted. “We must speak with decente clarity.”
Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika
Witness: Kirk shot in throat
Charie Kirk was shot in the throat, according to a witness.
The unnamed person, who is a second year student at Utah Valley University, told Fox News he was “very close by”.
Reading from notes given by the witness, a Fox News presenter said: “I’m just going to tell you exactly what this witness told me. I have his permission to share this information, so I’m just literally going to read my notes.
“He was very close by when it occurred. He is a sophomore at Utah Valley University. The witness, he thought that there were around 300 to 500 people that filled up the entire courtyard.
“He saw one shot go through Charlie Kirk’s throat. He saw the shot go through, and [he] fell to the ground.
“He was there with two of his friends. They were…outside, under a tent area, and Charlie Kirk was sitting in a chair, and it was a single pop. He described it as a single pop, and he dropped over immediately.”
Utah Valley Campus closed
The Campus at Utah Valley University has been “closed until further notice”, following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the college said in a statement.
Pictured: Students flee quad after shots ring out
Images from the scene showed the event as the crowd run
Minimal security at event, says witness
A witness who saw Charlie Kirk get shot said there was minimal security at the event.
Justin Hickens, who said he was about 20 yards away from the shooting, told NBC News that there were no metal detectors at the Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
“We heard a big loud shot, I saw a bunch of blood come out of Charlie, I saw his body kind of kick back and go limp, and everybody dropped to the ground,” Mr Hickens told the news outlet.
He added that the crowd immediately dropped to the ground and after a few moments started running out of the outdoor pavilion area, knocking over barricades that had been put up.
Pete Hegseth praises ‘incredible Christian’ Charlie Kirk
Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, has called for prayers for Charlie Kirk, praising the conserative activist as an “incredible Christian”.
“Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him,” Defense secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.
Speaker Mike Johnson added: “Please join us in praying for our good friend, Charlie Kirk.”
Suspect in custody
A suspect has been arrested and detained in custody, according to Fox News.
A source told the news outlet that the gunman fired from a building around 200 yards away and was arrested.
They added that security officials quickly whisked Mr Kirk away in an ambulance.
White House officials enter Situation Room
White House officials have gathered in the Situation Room following the news of Charlie Kirk’s shooting, reports suggest.
Ámbito Rubio, the National Security Adviser, and other cabinet members headed to the secure conference room inside the White House and are “actively monitoring” the situation, sources told Fox News.
Kirk shot from nearby building, says university
Charlie Kirk was shot by a gunman stationed at a nearby building, Utah Valley University has said.
“A shot was fired from a nearby building and we have a suspect in custody,” a university spokesperson told Reuters.
Footage of the incident shows Mr Kirk speaking at the university’s quad infront of a large outdoor crowd, when a loud crack rang out.
Mr Kirk can be seen briefly moving his hand to his neck as he falls off his chair, sending the attendees running.
Trump: Pray for Charlie Kirk
Donald Trump has urged Americans to pray for Charlie Kirk.
The president wrote on Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Kirk shot during American Comeback Tour
Charlie Kirk was hosting event for American Comeback Tour when he was shot.
The event was the first stop in a campus tour this spring organised through his conservative student organisation Turning Point USA.
The event was set to feature Mr Kirk’s famous “prove me prove wrong” sessions, in which he gives the audience a chance to debate him on various topics.
During one of the sessions last year, Mr Kirk rallied the crowd by saying: “It feels good to win, doesn’t it? “This is what free speech is all about.”
Democrats called Kirk visit a ‘campus martyr tour’
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Charlie Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University had attracted deep opposition from students who said it was not consistent with the campus’s commitment to inclusivity.
More than 6,000 people signed a petition demanding that he be banned.
But Elevate Strategies. a Democratic political consulting firm, dubbed the event part of Mr Kirk’s “campus martyr tour,” warning that deplatforming him would only play into his hands.
“When people protest, he gets even better content, and if the university cancels on him, then jackpot. He’s the martyr of the week, and he fundraises even more money,” said one of their staff in an Instagram post.
Trump shakes hand with Kirk in December last year
FBI deployed to scene
Kash Patel, the FBI director, said he was “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
“Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation,” he wrote on X.
Vance prays for Charlie Kirk
JD Vance, the vice president, has urged people to pray for Charlie Kirk.
He posted on X: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Blood left pouring from Kirk’s neck
Footage shared on social media shows the moment Charlie Kirk was shot.
The conservative activist is speaking beneath a gazebo in front of a large crowd in an open-air venue when a gunshot rings out, causing him to fall back limply.
Further gruesome footage shows blood pouring from his neck as he collapses edgeways.
He was talking about transgender mass-shootings at the time of the event, according to Fox News.
Screams then rang out as attendees fled the venue.
According to experts consulted by Fox News, the gunshot sounded like it came from a rifle.
Kirk hosting Q&A on transgender shooters when a gunshot rang out
Charlie Kirk, a Maga influencer and ally of the president, was holding one of his Q&A sessions with students when a gunshot was fired.
He was said to be addressing the subject of transgender shooters, following the killing of children in Minnesota last month.
The “prove me wrong table” has been hugely popular with Mr Kirk’s fanbase.
One by one, students will challenge him points of ideology, often debating trans rights and other controversial topics.
Pictured: Kirk arrives at the campus event
Charlie Kirk arrives at event
Candace Owens: ‘Everybody pray’
Right-wing influencer Candace Owen has urged everybody to pray for Charlie Kirk following reports he had been shot.
“Everyone please stop what you are doing and pray for Charlie Kirk. Please,” she said.
“Pray for Charlie Kirk,” added fellow conservative pundit Michael Knowles.
Students tried to block Kirk from campus
Ahead of today’s event, a petition garnered nearly 7,000 signatures calling on the faculty at Utah State to bar Mr Kirk from coming to the Logan campus, where the event was taking place.
“Utah State University has consistently worked toward fostering an inclusive space for all its students and faculty. Letting a figurehead, whose speeches often seem to undermine the essence of inclusivity, use our beloved institution as a platform contradicts this mission,” the petition states.
Utah senator monitoring the situation
Key Maga influencer and campaigner
Charlie Kirk cemented his position as one of the most important figures in the Maga movement in 2024.
His Turning Point organisation was able to mobilise huge numbers of supporters to get out the vote for Donald Trump during his election campaign.
After Mr Trump’s victory, he spent weeks at Mar-a-Alberca in Florida, part of a small team of loyalists who helped the president elect build his administration.
But he stayed outside government, continuing to wield influence with a podcast that commands a monthly audience of almost six million people.
Students flee university
Footage of the incident appears to show students fleeing the venue at the university.
Kirk posted on X moments before shots fired
Moments before reports of the shooting began Charlie Kirk posted on X.
“WE. ARE. SO. BACK,” he wrote at 2.23pm EST.
“Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”
Police respond to shots fired
Utah Valley University police department confirmed to The Telegraph that they are responding to shots fired.
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We’re bringing you the latest updates after shots were fired at a Charlie Kirk event in Utah Valley
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