Assassination of Charlie Kirk

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, was shot dead while onstage at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, United States. The shooting happened around 12:20p.m. local time. It happened shortly after the event started, and was confirmed by campus officials.

A 22-year-old American man was charged with Kirk's murder by police.

Assassination
Security camera footage examined by investigators showed that the gunman arrived at the campus at 11:52a.m. MDT (Mountain Daylight Time) and went up a stairwell in the Losee Center to the roof. The speaking event began at 12 noon. At 12:23p.m., Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at an American Comeback Tour event.

The shot was fired from a building roughly  away on the campus. This was the discussion before the shooting:

Multiple cellphone videos of the shooting were quickly published onto social media. An older male was arrested, but then released after police said he was not the assassin.

After the assassination, Kirk was taken to the hospital under critical condition. Reuters reported he was having surgery. Kirk died shortly afterwards at the age of 31.

The FBI and ATF assisted local authorities in the investigation, and the campus was placed on lockdown.

About 3,067 people went to the event, which was secured by six police officers and Kirk's private security personnel.

Aftermath
Shortly after the assassination, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social: "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!" Trump later confirmed Kirk's death on Truth Social:

"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!"

On September 11, Kirk's casket, accompanied by United States vice president JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, and Kirk's widow Erika Kirk, was transported on Air Force Two from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Phoenix, Arizona. A memorial service took place on in Glendale, Arizona.

Suspect
On September 12, Trump announced that the suspect, 22 year-old Tyler James Robinson, was in police custody after his father convinced him to turn himself in. On September 16, Robinson was formally charged with Kirk's murder. Prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty.

References

Category:2020s in Utah
Category:September 2025 events
Category:2025 crimes in the United States
Kirk, Charlie