OREM, Utah – Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. He was 31.
The aftermath of the attack has been marked by conflicting information from officials. While Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that a "person of interest is in custody," the state's public safety commissioner maintained the suspect remains at large. Further complicating the situation, FBI Director Kash Patel later confirmed that an individual who had been detained was released after questioning.
President Donald Trump mourned Kirk in a post on Truth Social: "The Great, even Legendary, Charlie Kirk has passed away. Nobody understood or had the Heart of America’s Youth more than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is gone. Melania and I send our condolences to his beautiful wife, Erika, and his family. Charlie, we love you!"
The attack occurred while Kirk was hosting an event on the Orem campus as part of his organization's "Back to America Tour." The university stated that a shot was fired just after 12:00 PM local time, striking Kirk. Two law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News that only a single shot was fired.
Video from the event captures Kirk speaking to a crowd at an outdoor "Prove Me Wrong" style debate, where he invited students to challenge his political and cultural views, just before a gunshot is heard.
In response to the incident, Utah Valley University Police initiated a campus-wide lockdown, conducting a "building-by-building" evacuation.
Conflicting Reports Emerge in Manhunt
Hours after the shooting, top officials provided contradictory updates. Governor Spencer Cox stated at a press conference, "a person of interest is in custody," a sentiment echoed by FBI Director Kash Patel, who initially posted, "The subject of the horrific shooting" was in custody.
However, Patel later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that an "individual" detained in connection with the shooting "has been released after being questioned by law enforcement." He added, "Our investigation remains ongoing, and we will continue to release information in the interest of transparency." The person's identity was not disclosed.
Contradicting the governor's initial statement, Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason insisted that the primary suspect in the shooting was still at large. Mason explained that a different individual had been arrested "shortly after the shooting" but was released "after we determined that he did not match the shooter’s description." That same person, Mason noted, was later booked into the county jail on an unrelated charge of obstruction of justice.
"I want to be crystal clear right now to whoever did this: We will find you, we will try you, and we will convict you to the fullest extent of the law," Governor Cox said, addressing the perpetrator directly. "And I would just remind everyone that we do have the death penalty in the state of Utah."
Investigators are analyzing security camera footage, with Commissioner Mason stating that the shot likely came from a location on campus, "possibly from a rooftop." Authorities are appealing to the public for any information related to the shooting but do not currently believe a second person was involved.
World Leaders React to Killing
Leaders of several key U.S. allies condemned the assassination on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that Kirk "was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom," describing the activist as "a courageous friend of Israel."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote, "We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear—there is no justification for political violence." Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, has an affiliate in the United Kingdom focused on conservative activism.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the assassination a "brutal murder" and a "deep wound for democracy."
Elected officials across the U.S. political spectrum were quick to condemn the attack and denounce political violence.
