A shooting disrupted an ordinary campus afternoon, sending students running for cover, bringing a major event to an abrupt stop, and leaving the nation stunned.
The victim was Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA (TPU), who was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Tuesday, September 10, 2025.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on September 10, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The shooting happened around 12:20 p.m., about 20 minutes into Kirk’s event, which was organized by a student chapter of TPU. According to NBC News, witnesses heard gunfire from a nearby building. He was also the sole person shot at the event.
A UVU spokesperson recounted the events, “To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel. The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect and custody.”
Not long after, TPU issued a statement confirming Kirk’s condition. “This is an ongoing situation,” said spokesperson Aubrey Laitsch. “We can confirm that Charlie Kirk has been shot. He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time.”
By the afternoon, the organization announced his death as reported by CNN, “It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven.”
In response, President Donald Trump ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through sunset on September 14, 2025. The proclamation directed flags to be lowered at the White House, federal buildings, military installations, and U.S. embassies worldwide as a mark of solemn respect for Charlie Kirk.
