Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck during a live event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. The incident occurred shortly after noon local time while Kirk was speaking at an outdoor Q&A session as part of his “American Comeback Tour,” with eyewitness accounts and videos showing him recoiling after a single gunshot was heard, followed by visible blood on his neck. He was immediately removed from the scene by his security team and transported to a nearby hospital.
As of the latest reports (published between approximately 1-2 hours after the incident), Kirk is in critical condition and undergoing surgery at an undisclosed hospital. Turning Point USA has confirmed he was shot and is receiving medical treatment, but no further details on his prognosis have been released by the organization or his family. Some unverified social media posts and user accounts have claimed Kirk succumbed to his injuries, including one referencing a statement from Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, but no major news outlets or official sources (such as law enforcement, the university, or Turning Point USA) have confirmed his death as of this time. These claims appear to be unsubstantiated rumors amid the ongoing situation.
The university has closed its campus, canceled classes, and instructed those on site to shelter in place while police investigate. Initial reports indicated a suspect was in custody, but later updates clarified that an individual detained shortly after the shooting was not the perpetrator, and no arrests have been confirmed. Authorities believe the shot was fired from approximately 200 yards away, possibly from a nearby building on campus. The FBI and ATF are assisting in the investigation.
Public figures, including President Trump, Vice President Vance, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Elon Musk, have issued statements condemning the violence and calling for prayers for Kirk’s recovery. This remains a developing story, with no motive publicly identified yet.