Live updates: Charlie Kirk is assassinated at Utah campus event; shooter at-large

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was giving a presentation at Utah Valley University when he was fatally shot.

What we know

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at an event he was hosting at Utah Valley University in Orem, just north of Provo.
President Donald Trump initially confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social.
Videos circulating online show Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, recoiling after a shot was heard, with blood pouring from his neck.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described Kirk’s killing as “a political assassination” in remarks during a news conference.
FBI Director Kash Patel said tonight that a subject in custody in connection with the shooting was released after being interrogated. The shooter remains at large.

Vigil being held for Charlie Kirk at Utah Capitol

A vigil is being held at Utah’s State Capitol building in Salt Lake City tonight after Kirk was fatally shot earlier today

Pastor Ron Williams told the crowd that Kirk was “a young man that was full of passion, full of love, and he loved his country and he loved his family.”

Williams asked for peace and comfort for Kirk’s family and those close to him, and he said that although there may be other dark days, people should choose love over violence. Williams called Kirk’s killing an injustice.

“Let us as fellow Americans realize that what happened today may not be the last time that we need to speak up, we need to stand up, we need to move forward and say no to violence and yes to love and unity and justice,” he said in an opening prayer.

Supporters of Kirk stopped to pray and bring flowers to the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix after the conservative activist was fatally shot, NBC affiliate KPNX reported.

Several people shared stories about Kirk and expressed why they were drawn to his movement.

Donald Trump Jr. mourns Kirk’s death, calling him ‘a brother to me’

Zoë Richards

Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of Kirk’s, mourned his death on social media tonight, saying Kirk “was a brother to me, and I will carry that with me forever.”

“I don’t even know how to begin to put into words the loss I am feeling right now over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie wasn’t just a friend — he was like a little brother to me — and to millions of people around the world — he was a true inspiration,” Trump wrote on X.

“This loss is absolutely devastating — not only for Erika and the kids, but for our country. We’ve lost a leader, a fighter, and a man whose character and conviction were rare. Too rare. To think that his life was cut short by a brutal, heinous, evil act is beyond comprehension. It is horrible and it is heartbreaking,” he added.

Utah Valley University president: ‘We are shocked and saddened’

Utah Valley University President Astrid S. Tuminez said tonight that she and the university are “shocked and saddened” by Kirk’s killing on the campus in Orem earlier today.

“We express our sincere condolences to the Kirk family. We grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy,” she said in a statement.

“He was invited by the student group Turning Point USA to speak on our campus. We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully,” she said. “Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here. We do not condone any form of violence at UVU and seek to make our campus a safe place for all.”

Hallie Jackson on Kirk’s death: ‘Stunning to so many people across the political spectrum’

NBC News senior Washington correspondent Hallie Jackson reacts to Kirk’s death and explains what it means in the political sphere amid a sharp rise in political violence.

Subject said to be connected to killing is released, FBI head says

Around 90 minutes after he announced, “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” FBI Director Kash Patel said moments ago that the person has been released.

“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency,” Patel wrote.

Shooting witnesses describe lax security measures at event

Justin Hickens says he was standing about 20 yards from Kirk as the influential conservative activist addressed a large crowd at Utah Valley University today. Then, in the middle of Kirk’s remarks, Hickens heard “a big, loud shot.”

When people realized Kirk had been shot, they started running from the outdoor pavilion area, some knocking over barricades as they fled, Hickens said.

Hickens is one of scores of people who had gathered to see Kirk.

At a news conference hours after the shooting, University Police Chief Jeff Long said six police officers were at the event, which about 3,000 people attended. There were “some plainclothes police officers that were in the crowd as well,” he said.

“We train for these things, and you think you have things covered, and these things, unfortunately, they happen,” he said. “You try to get your bases covered, and unfortunately, today we didn’t. Because of that, we had this tragic incident.”

Utah governor asks nation to ‘think about where we are’

Gov. Spencer Cox invoked the founding of the United States of America in condemning what he called the politically motivated killing of Kirk.

He said the leaders of the country and every American need to “think about where we are and where we want to be.”

“To ask ourselves: Is this it? Is this what 250 years has wrought on us? I pray that that’s not the case,” Cox said.

He said that if anyone celebrated the news of Kirk’s shooting, “I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.”

Cox called for prayers for Kirk’s wife and two children.

FBI sets up digital tip line in search for info

NBC News

The FBI announced it has set up a digital tip line seeking information on the shooting.

A person of interest is in custody, officials have said, but that person has not been publicly identified.

FBI confident person of interest is the shooter, senior official says

A senior FBI official told NBC News that the person of interest Utah authorities announced is the same person FBI Director Kash Patel was referring to in an X post before tonight’s news conference.

They are confident the person is the shooter, the official said.

Authorities give mixed answers about suspect but say a person of interest is in custody

Doha Madani

While Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters that a suspect is at large, Gov. Spencer Cox has said a person of interest is being interviewed in connection with Kirk’s fatal shooting.

That person is not George Zinn, the man who was initially detained after the shooting but was not a match to the shooter’s description, Cox said.

Mason said the only information authorities have about the shooter is from CCTV video from campus.

“We do have that we’re analyzing it, but it is security camera footage, so you can kind of guess what the quality of that is,” Mason said. “We do know dressed in all dark clothing. We don’t have much better description.”

‘This is a political assassination,’ Utah governor says

Doha Madani

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described Kirk’s killing as “a political assassination” in remarks to reporters.

“Charlie Kirk was, first and foremost, a husband and a dad to young children,” Cox said. “He was also very much politically involved, and that’s why he was here on campus.”

Kirk was on the Utah Valley University campus today to debate ideas in line with his beliefs about the power of free speech, Cox said. He added that that is a constitutional right “foundational to the formation of our country.”

“Nothing I say can unite us as a country,” Cox said. “Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken. Nothing I can say can bring back Charlie Kirk.”

Person of interest still at large; Utah authorities said

Doha Madani

Authorities are still searching for a person of interest, Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters.

“There was one shot fired, and once one victim, while the suspect is at large,” Mason said. “I believe this was a targeted attack towards one individual.”

Mason clarified that a man was initially detained but did not match descriptions of the shooter. The man, George Zinn, was booked on a charge of obstruction of justice.

The FBI and the state Department of Public Safety asked the public for any information that could lead to identifying a suspect.

Map shows distance between Charlie Kirk and shooter’s location

‘Do you run?’ Witnesses who took cover after shooting describe chaos

Taylor Dufur and his wife, Haley Bermingham, were about 30 feet from Kirk when the fatal gunshot rang out, and the first reactions in the crowd near them were to get down.

“We heard the gunshot, and people just started dropping,” Dufur told NBC News’ Tom Llamas by phone during live coverage. He said his biggest concern was lying on top of his wife to protect her.

“I looked over and saw him as he was falling out of his chair, and I saw the blood coming out of his neck,” Dufur said. “It was just — people panicking, kind of chaos.”

‘Do you run?’ Witnesses who took cover after shooting describe chaos , continued

Bermingham said that at first she questioned what the sound was, and then a man in front of them started pushing people down, saying, “Everyone get down, get down, that’s a gunshot.”

“And then next thing you know, you’re just trying to look for your exits,” Bermingham said. “He’s saying to stay down, but do you run? Do you stay down, do you crawl? You don’t know what to do.”

The couple are fans of Kirk, and so are their kids. Dufur said everyone in the crowd was having a good time.

“It makes me angry. I do get very angry about it — that someone could have this much hate inside them as they want to take somebody out of his world,” Dufur said

“It’s just sad, as well, because our world is so divided at the moment,” he said. “And I feel like people just need to get along.”

White House lowers flags to half-staff in honor of Kirk

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff within an hour after Trump confirmed Kirk’s death.

In addition, Trump issued a proclamation ordering flags to lowered to half-staff at the at all federal buildings, embassies, consular offices and other U.S. government properties abroad until sunset on Sept. 14, 2025.

The flag atop the White House is lowered to half-staff on Wednesday.Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Charlie Kirk murdered at campus event, Turning Point USA says

Doha Madani and Madison Lambert

Kirk was “murdered by a gunshot” at Utah Valley University, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA confirmed in a statement to NBC News.

“We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers,” the organization said. “We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity in this time.”

Students offered police escorts as search for shooter continues

Students who are still on campus are being offered police escorts as authorities continue to search for the shooter.

“Police will come and escort you out of the building,” the university wrote on X. “Public transportation available at Orem Station by pedestrian bridge.”

Trump says Charlie Kirk is dead

Charlie Kirk is dead, Trump said on Truth Social.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.

“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump added. “Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”