Former Turning Point USA founder and Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event in Utah, sparking a national outcry and an ongoing manhunt.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack as a “dark moment for America,” pledging a crackdown on political violence.
In a video message posted on Truth Social, Trump said he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
“Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” Trump said. Calling Kirk a “patriot” and a “model for truth and freedom,” the president added that his faith gave comfort to those grieving.
“This is a dark moment for America,” he declared, vowing that his administration would “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity.”
Confusion over suspects as FBI steps in
The shooting took place at Utah Valley University, where Kirk, 31, was speaking to students. He was shot once in the neck and later died in hospital.
Authorities initially detained a suspect on campus but released the individual after questioning. The FBI later confirmed it had arrested another “subject,” but that person, too, was released. FBI Director Kash Patel said the investigation continues, with law enforcement now conducting a door-to-door manhunt.
Witness accounts and scene at Utah Campus
Hundreds of students fled in panic when the gunshot rang out. No one else was injured. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullins later confirmed that Kirk’s wife and children had been present at the event.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the attack as a “political assassination” and urged Americans to stop “hating each other.”
Trump linked the attack to what he called “radical left political violence,” citing the assassination attempt against him and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year. Critics, however, argue that Trump’s rhetoric has contributed to the growing hostility.
The killing of Kirk, a high-profile conservative voice who founded Turning Point USA at just 18, marks a dramatic escalation in America’s deepening political unrest.
