Charlie Kirk fatally shot at Turning Point USA event in Utah
Charlie Kirk, the influencer and activist who co-founded right-wing group Turning Point USA, has died at the age of 31 after being shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, according to his spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, speaking to the New York Times. Deseret News had earlier reported Kirk's death, according to Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, and President Donald Trump said Kirk is dead in a post on Truth Social at 4:40PM ET.
At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said that we have a person of interest in custody," minutes after FBI Director Kash Patel tweeted an announcement that The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody."
Just before 8PM ET, Kash tweeted again, saying, The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency."
Following the shooting, videos on social media seemed to show the arrest of an alleged suspect. Utah Valley University initially said that a suspect was in custody, but Deseret News reported that, according to officials, the status of the shooter is unclear. A spokesperson has also told the New York Times that a person taken into custody after the shooting was not actually the shooter.
According to media reports, he appeared to have been hit in the neck. A spokesperson for the university, Ellen Treanor, said in a statement that shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker." The school later said its campus will be closed through Sunday, September 14th.
On behalf of Utah Valley University, we are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk, a guest to our campus. Our hearts go out to his family. As we grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy, UVU campuses will be closed from September 11-14.
At the time of the shooting, Kirk was speaking at the first event of a scheduled 15-stop American Comeback Tour, and seated at a Prove Me Wrong Table" taking questions from the crowd, according to the New York Times.
Update, September 10th: Added the latest information about a person of interest who was interrogated and released.