Shockwaves in Utah: Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead in deadly campus shooting

Washington, United States: A shocking act of violence occurred on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Trump, was fatally shot during an event.

According to Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah Congressman present at the event, Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking to a large audience at Utah Valley University as part of his 'American Comeback Tour'. He said that while Kirk was conducting a question and answer session, an unknown individual shot directly at him, striking him in the neck.

The former congressman further confirmed that he was responding to a question asked by the audience about the mass shooting and gun violence, when the gunshot was fired. After being shot, Kirk collapsed immediately as blood poured from his neck, and he was quickly removed from the scene by his security team.

Chaffetz explained that, “As soon as that shot went out, he fell back and everyone began hitting the deck while a lot of people started screaming before beginning to run.”

Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Donald Trump shot dead in Utah. 😳 https://t.co/Dv2XvogtWo

— Sunanda Roy 👑 (@SaffronSunanda) September 11, 2025

According to the police officers, the shot was probably fired from the rooftop, at the campus and also showed the possibility that the suspect was wearing dark coloured clothes. The officers also confirmed that the university told them that the shooter was at large.

Hours after the incident, Kash Patel, the FBI Director, released a statement that the suspect had been arrested, and was taken into custody but was released later after questioning. The Director further stated that “The search for the shooter is still ongoing."

We are 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…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 10, 2025

United States President Donald Trump also expressed his feelings through social media posts, praising him while writing that “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead”, and also vowed that he’ll crack down on all the political violence.

TO MY GREAT FELLOW AMERICANS… pic.twitter.com/oRsrE5TTHr

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2025

He also said in a four-minute video, while sitting on the Resolute desk in the Oval Office that “This kind of incident is directly responsible for the terrorism which  we are seeing in our country today”.

Further, Trump stated “My government will locate everyone who has contributed to this atrocity, and also to other political violence, and we’ll also find the organisations who are funding and supporting these criminals”.

The Republican and Democratic officials, Vice President JD Vance and Kamala Harris, also condemned the shooting and expressed their sadness while offering a prayer for his death.