Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, was struck by gunfire during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, where he was hosting a public “Prove Me Wrong” table as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Witness footage from the scene shows a single shot fired from a nearby building that caused panic among attendees.
Initial accounts of Kirk’s condition varied across outlets in the hours after the attack. Some major news organizations reported that Kirk was taken to a hospital in critical condition, while others reported that he had died after being shot; authorities and media continued to update the situation as investigations proceeded.
Law enforcement sources said a suspect was detained near the scene after the shooting and federal agencies including the FBI and ATF moved in to assist with the probe, treating the event as a targeted attack. Utah officials and university authorities closed parts of the campus during the immediate response as investigators worked to secure the area.
The attack drew rapid bipartisan condemnation on social media and statements of concern from national political figures. Leading Republicans and some Democrats urged calm and called for restraint in political rhetoric, while Turning Point USA and other allies asked for prayers for Kirk and his family. The incident renewed alarms about politically motivated violence targeting public figures and campus events.
Background: Kirk rose to national prominence by building Turning Point USA into a major youth-oriented conservative organization and by becoming a frequent cable commentator and podcaster. His events have been controversial at times and have prompted protests and security concerns on college campuses before, context that investigators and public-commentary figures noted as they reacted to the shooting.
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