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Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk is shot and killed at UVU

Charlie Kirk is wearing a suit and speaking into a microphone. The background is bright pink.
Gage Skidmore
/
Wikimedia Commons
Charlie Kirk speaking in Grapevine, Texas on June 9, 2023.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.

His death was confirmed by President Donald Trump on Truth Social.

At the time of the shooting, Kirk was being asked about mass shootings and attendees immediately ducked for cover as gunfire was heard at 12:20 p.m. Kirk was taken away by his security team and the university was placed on lockdown.

According to a UVU statement, there was “a shot fired from the top of the Losee Center. Someone appeared to be at the top of the building or somewhere inside.” Classes have been canceled for the day.

The status of the shooter is unclear.

Kirk's speech at UVU was part of the American Comeback Tour hosted by Turning Point USA. He was scheduled to visit Utah State University at the end of the month.

The FBI is monitoring the situation. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was being briefed by law enforcement and that he would share updates as they become available.

This story is breaking news. Accurate reporting takes time. We will update this story as we confirm additional information.

Sheri's career in radio began at 7 years old in Los Angeles, California with a secret little radio tucked under her bed that she'd fall asleep with, while listening to The Dr. Demento Radio Show. She went on to produce the first science radio show in Utah in 1999 and has been reporting local, national and international stories ever since. After a stint as news director at KZYX on northern California's Lost Coast, she landed back at UPR in 2021.
In 2018, Emily Colby was hired as an intern to produce Access Utah, and she's been at UPR ever since. While she loved Access Utah, the Utah Women & Leadership Podcast, and hosting weekend programming, she's found even more joy overseeing the website and other digital platforms. Emily loves cooking, TV, and books.