Charlie Kirk was shot and killed by an assassin while on stage during a stop at Utah Valley University kicking off his American Comeback Tour Wednesday, just as he answered a question from an audience member about mass shootings committed by transgender people.
The shooter remains on the loose, sources told The Post, despite conflicting reports that an arrest was made. Video was circulating on social media showing an older man being hauled away by police.
Even before Kirk’s death was confirmed, President Trump somberly spoke of him in the past tense, telling The Post, “He’s not doing well…yes, it looks very bad,” adding that he was feeling “not good” about the shooting.
“He was a very, very good friend of mine and he was a tremendous person,” the president said.
Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery, his condition touch-and-go, a nurse told a longtime friend and former Turning Point USA employee Laci Williams who relayed that information to The Post, later confirming reports he had passed away.
The conservative influencer jerked back and appeared to recoil in pain and grab at his neck as the crack of a single gunshot rang out from the crowd, dramatic video from the scene shows.
Kirk, 31, was conducting a Q&A session from a pop-up tent on campus when a gunman fired a shot from the university’s Losee Center with a long gun around 200 feet away from where he was speaking, according to sources and a university spokesperson, sending thousands of spectators into a panic.
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event with his family, told Fox News that the shot came during the second question Kirk was answering about transgender shooters.
“He fell back to his left. Everybody hit the deck. Everybody was screaming, then everybody was running,” he said.
Chaffetz added while Kirk had some security guards in front of where he was speaking, there were no security checks going in and the event had a light police presence.
He told the outlet he believed it was “no coincidence” Kirk was shot during the question about transgender mass shootings, adding that he realized “he may be criticized for that.”
Chaffetz said he believed that Kirk was shot at close proximity from the front of the stage.
Police in Orem, Utah — where the university is located — could not provide further details but promised to keep The Post updated as more details emerged.
President Trump addressed the attack in a Truth Social post, writing, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
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