Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University in what authorities are calling a targeted political assassination. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was speaking at an outdoor event when a single gunshot struck him in the neck, ending his life at a local hospital.
The shooting happened around 12:20 p.m. during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” appearance at the Orem campus. About 3,000 people had gathered for the event where Kirk was sitting under a tent debating with students on current affairs issues. Video from the scene shows Kirk reaching for his neck as blood gushed from the wound before he collapsed from his chair.
