Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing political activist, commentator, and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been shot dead while speaking at a university in Utah. The incident occurred on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in the city of Orem, where Kirk was addressing students as part of a nationwide tour. According to reports, a bullet struck him in the neck. He was rushed to a hospital but later died while receiving treatment. Utah’s governor has described the killing as a political assassination.

Reuters reported that authorities have not yet confirmed whether a suspect has been identified or arrested. However, FBI Director Kash Patel initially told the media that a person connected to the shooting was already in custody. Minutes later, Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason contradicted the statement, announcing that the suspect was still at large. An FBI official was present during that briefing. The conflicting statements have further fueled speculation and confusion about the investigation.

Trump expressed grief over the killing on social media, calling Kirk “a great and legendary figure” and praising his ability to connect with America’s youth. He wrote that no one had more influence in inspiring and winning the hearts of young people than Kirk, and that he himself had admired him greatly. Trump added that the loss was immeasurable, both personally and politically.

Several videos of the shooting have circulated on social media. One shows the 31-year-old activist speaking to the audience around 12:20 p.m. local time. As he responded to questions, a sudden gunshot was heard, after which Kirk clutched his neck and collapsed from his chair. Panic ensued among the audience as people rushed to escape. Another video shows blood streaming from his neck as bystanders tried to assist him. Neither Reuters nor AFP has independently verified the authenticity of the videos, though AFP noted that Kirk was wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the word “FREEDOM” in large black letters.

Kirk was a co-founder of Turning Point USA, one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the United States. The group played a significant role in rallying young voters in support of Trump during last year’s election. After winning a second term, Trump publicly credited Kirk and his organization for mobilizing young and minority voters. On the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Kirk had more than 5.3 million followers, making him one of the most influential voices among conservative youth circles.

His death marks the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting political figures in the U.S. Last year, Trump himself survived two assassination attempts. Analysts say the killing underscores the sharp rise in political violence across the country. Kirk was in Utah to launch his “America Comeback Tour,” a 15-event series aimed at energizing conservative youth. The Utah appearance was the first in the series.

Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended the event, told Fox News that Kirk was answering questions about issues including transgender shooters and mass shootings when the attack occurred. He was immediately carried out on a stretcher by his security team and transported to a nearby hospital. Local authorities later stated that the gunfire originated from within the campus, possibly from a rooftop. Witnesses described the gunman as wearing dark clothing.

The killing drew condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum. Vice President Kamala Harris said there is no place for political violence in the United States, echoing calls from Democratic officials for calm and unity. Trump, however, directly blamed rhetoric from what he called “radical leftists” for inciting violence. In a video address from the Oval Office, he vowed that his administration would pursue every individual and group involved in the attack, as well as organizations that provide financial or ideological support for political violence.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to search for the suspect. The killing of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through American politics, raising new fears about the worsening climate of political extremism and violence.