Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was hospitalized in critical condition on Wednesday after being shot during a college event in Utah, according to a law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press. Utah Valley University confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
Videos posted to social media captured the harrowing moment. The footage shows Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while seated under a white tent featuring the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” Suddenly, a single gunshot can be heard, and Kirk is seen raising his right hand as a heavy flow of blood begins to pour from the left side of his neck. Shocked attendees can be heard gasping and screaming as chaos erupts, with many rushing to flee the scene. The Associated Press verified that the videos were filmed at the Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.
Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA, confirmed the severity of the incident. “We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” she said.
Divided Reactions and Rising Tensions
Kirk had been participating in a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization when the shooting occurred. The event itself had already stirred controversy among students and faculty members on campus. A petition urging university administrators to prevent Kirk from speaking had gathered nearly 1,000 signatures.
In response to criticism, Utah Valley University issued a statement last week citing First Amendment protections and stressing its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”
Kirk himself had acknowledged the backlash during his visit to Utah, posting on X that local media coverage of his appearances showed just how much debate his presence was sparking. “What’s going on in Utah?” he wrote alongside screenshots of news clips.
According to university officials, a “single shot” was fired at Kirk before security detained a suspect.
