OREM, UT—On September 10, at approximately 2:30 (GMT), conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA was shot in the neck at an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University. Close to an hour after the shooting it was announced to the public, Charlie Kirk succumbed to his injuries at age 31.
He was more than just a political commentator. At the age of 18, he was speaking to young people at a Benedictine School. Bill Montgomery, who co-founded Turning Point USA with Charlie Kirk, was there. He stopped Kirk and reportedly asked him to postpone his college plans and become an activist. Together, they founded and built TPUSA into what it is today.
Kirk, a Christian who was not afraid to speak on moral and ethical issues spoke about what mattered most to him, faith, family, and doing the right thing. He was a staunch Republican and was known to speak at Republican conventions on President Trump’s behalf, and in return, Trump spoke at a Turning Point USA conference in Arizona last year.
Reports indicate that he had only been speaking approximately 30 minutes at Utah Valley’s Question and Answer session when a question arose about trans shooters. It was then that Kirk was shot.
Turning Point USA sent updates on Kirk via their X media page sharing some heart felt messages that are too numerous to list here as more thoughts and prayers continue.
…” The incident erupted amid a student Q and A session, causing chaos as attendees fled: a suspect is in custody, and Kirk’s condition is serious but not life-threatening.”
President Trump, Vice President, JD Vance, and a multitude of other public figures have reached out asking for prayers for Kirk.
“We must pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. God bless him! — President Donald J. Trump
“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy, and a young father.”— Vice President, JD Vance
“Everyone please stop what you are doing and pray for Charlie Kirk”—Candace Owens
“Pray for Charlie and all the other innocents.”—Ben Shapiro
“We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation,”—FBI Director, Kash Patel
Spencer Cox, the Governor of Utah, has indicated that he has been briefed on the shooting, and stated that, “The Shooter will be held fully accountable.”
Video footage captured at the scene depicts the moment the gunman was taken into custody. He is a balding older white man. He could be heard shouting, “Shoot me, Shoot me.”
Secondary reports came in that the man in custody is not the shooter, but that the shooter was a follower with psyche issues.
Kirk married the love of his life, and former Miss Arizona, Erika Frantzve. They have two small children.
