Charlie Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a Q&A at Utah Valley University. The attack occurred as he responded to a question about mass shootings, his final words cut short by a bullet striking his neck.

Witnesses described chaos as students screamed, ducked for cover, and fled. Video showed Kirk collapsing mid-sentence beneath a tent labeled “The American Comeback,” with blood pooling as security rushed in, unable to prevent the tragedy.

Initial confusion followed when police detained an elderly man shouting about his rights, but he was quickly cleared as a suspect. Investigators believe the fatal shot came from the Losee Center building nearly 200 yards away, prompting an ongoing manhunt.

Attendees criticized the event’s lack of security—no bag checks or screening were conducted. Officials admitted vulnerabilities and acknowledged failure to prevent the attack.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the killing, promising accountability. Former President Donald Trump called Kirk “great, and even legendary” on Truth Social, while California Governor Gavin Newsom labeled the shooting “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”

Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children. Married in 2021, the couple recently celebrated their fourth anniversary. Friends remembered him as a passionate activist who built a national movement from his teenage years.

The tragedy reignited debate over political violence and campus safety, highlighting the fragile state of public discourse in a divided America.