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Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot during a student question-and-answer session at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, according to eyewitness accounts and social media posts.
Kirk, executive director of Turning Point USA, was struck near the neck while seated during the live event, part of his organization's American Comeback Tour hosted by the university's TPUSA chapter. Video footage circulating on social media shows Kirk being hit while speaking under a tent in the campus courtyard.
Witnesses reported seeing Kirk fall from his chair as shots were fired. The incident prompted an immediate campus evacuation following reports of an active shooter situation.
Utah Valley University police confirmed to news outlets that shots were fired on campus, though official details about the shooting remain limited. Video footage from the scene shows students fleeing after hearing gunshots during what was intended to be a routine campus speaking engagement.
Minutes before the shooting, Kirk had posted enthusiastically about the event on social media: "WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour."
The incident drew swift reaction from Utah's congressional delegation. Sen. Mike Lee posted on social media that he was "tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely," adding, "Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there."
Sen. Ashley Moody also responded on social media, stating her "office is monitoring the situation at Utah Valley University. I pray for Charlie Kirk, the students, and this nation."
Kirk, a prominent figure in conservative politics, has built Turning Point USA into one of the most influential right-wing student organizations in the country. The group regularly hosts speaking events on college campuses nationwide.
A suspect believed to have shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been apprehended at Utah Valley University campus, according to reports from the scene.
President Donald Trump responded to the shooting on his Truth Social platform, writing: "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!" Trump had close ties with Charlie Kirk, whose Turning Point USA organization has been a prominent supporter of the president's political activities.
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