Charlie Kirk shot at Utah Valley University campus, hospitalized

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, has been shot. The suspect is in custody, Utah Valley University said in a statement.

According to Kirk’s spokesperson, “Charlie Kirk has been shot at Utah Valley University. Condition unknown.”

Video posted from the event appeared to show Kirk being shot as he spoke to the crowd from under a white pop-up tent.

After the shot, the crowd dispersed, with onlookers shouting “Run, run, run!”

In a statement to Fox News, Ellen Treanor, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communication Management at Utah Valley University said that the shooting happened at about 12:20 p.m.

Students and attendees run for safety after shots were fired during Charlie Kirk’s event at Utah Valley University.

Charlie Kirk listens onstage during Politicon 2018 on October 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images/Politicon)

“We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group, Turning Point USA, who was speaking on campus today at noon,” the statement said.

“At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker. To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel,” Treanor said. “The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect and custody.”

President Donald Trump shakes hands with conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a forum dubbed the Generation Next Summit at the White House on March 22, 2018 in Washington, D.C.  (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In a campus-wide alert, Utah Valley University said that: “A single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker. Police are investigating now.”

The alert noted that the suspect is in custody. Their identity is unknown at this time.

Utah Valley University noted that the campus is “closed until further notice.”

“Ongoing police investigation. If you are still on campus follow police direction.”

Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, speaks during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida, US, on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kirk had been scheduled to appear at Utah Valley University on Wednesday as part of his American Comeback Tour, with another stop at Utah State University later this month. His appearances have drawn protests and petitions from student groups critical of his views.

In a since-deleted post on Kirk’s social media just hours before the attack, the conservative firebrand wrote: “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk speaks during the Turning Point Action’s The Believers Summit 2024 ahead of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s presentation, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., July 26, 2024. (REUTERS/Marco Bello)

President Trump wrote on social media: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”

In a statement on X, Vice President J.D. Vance wrote: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”

FILE – Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Utah Senator Mike Lee posted to X shortly after news of the shooting broke, writing, “I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”