Charlie Kirk Pronounced Dead after Shooting at Utah Valley University Event

Milton Quintanilla

Audio By Carbonatix

By Milton Quintanilla, Crosswalk.com

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed on Wednesday after he was shot in the neck during a student Q&A at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The suspect is now in custody, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

Kirk, co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was hosting a "Prove Me Wrong" booth as part of his "American Comeback Tour" when video footage showed him falling from his chair when he was shot in the neck.

The campus sent out an alert to students regarding the incident and has since been placed on lockdown, Deseret News reported.

"A single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker. Police are investigating now, suspect in custody," an alert from UVU said.

Several hours later, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Kirk is dead.

"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife, Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!" the president wrote.

Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative advocacy organization, also released a statement confirming Kirk's death.

"May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving Savior, who suffered and died for Charlie," the organization stated.

TPUSA also asked for prayers for Kirk's family and loved ones while asking to respect their privacy and dignity at this time.

The university also reported that the suspect was not in custody.

"A suspect was in custody initially, but to the best of my knowledge, that individual has been released. Our campus police are currently investigating in conjunction with the Orem police." UVU spokesperson Ellen Treanor said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Kirk, who was born in 1993, co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 with Tea Party organizer Bill Montgomery, which advocates for conservative politics across high school, college, and university campuses. He currently serves as executive director of TPUSA and leads several affiliated organizations, including Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Faith, Newsweek reported.

Kirk was also the host of The Charlie Kirk Show, a conservative talk radio program and has been outspoken against COVID-19 policy, critical race theory, and climate change. He was also a professing Christian who has often been outspoken of his faith.

"Jesus is honestly the most important thing," Kirk said last month, while discussing NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson resharing his faith-based post, Fox News reported.

Kirk leaves behind his wife, former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve, and they have two young children together.

Prayer for Charlie Kirk

Lord,

We pray for comfort and solace at this time after hearing the tragic news of Charlie Kirk's murder. We pray for his wife, Erika, and their two children at this time as we pray and extend our condolences to them. We also pray that the suspect will be apprehended soon and brought to justice. Lord, help us because there is so much evil surrounding us. Keep our eyes on You and know that You are in control, no matter what. Overall, we know that death is not the end for those in Christ and that You will ultimately bring justice to the wicked.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

When violence erupts, our first response must be prayer—but also reflection. How do we stay anchored in Christ when fear threatens to take over? And how can we be a voice of peace and light in moments that feel dark and chaotic? Join the conversation on Crosswalk Forums!

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.