Gunshot, Screams & Chaos, Suspected Shooter: Chilling Videos Capture Charlie Kirk's Assassination

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 11:34 IST

Police and federal agents are still piecing together how the shooter positioned and fired the fatal shot and are urging caution about unverified online claims.

Well-wishers pay their respects at a makeshift memorial at the national headquarters of Turning Point USA after the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. (AP)

Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday (local time) while speaking at an event in Utah.

Kirk, 31, led Turning Point USA, the conservative youth movement he co-founded in 2012 at just 18, and had become one of the most recognisable figures in Republican politics. He was addressing a gathering on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) when the shooting occurred.

Wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Freedom," Kirk sat under a tent, fielding questions from a packed audience. The Utah event marked the first stop in a 15-city tour scheduled to run through the end of October.

A Gunshot, Then Chaos

The town hall at Utah Valley University descended into panic when a single gunshot interrupted Charlie Kirk’s remarks.

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was present at the event, told Fox News that the activist had been answering a question about “transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out."

Video captured from the scene shows the 31-year-old collapsing as blood poured from his neck. Within moments, Kirk was carried out on a stretcher by his security team.

“As soon as that shot went out, he fell back," Chaffetz recalled. “Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running."

Suspected Shooter On Rooftop

Hours after the fatal shooting of right-wing youth activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk, multiple videos surfaced online appearing to show a figure running and ducking across the roof of a university building.

The footage, widely shared on social media, was claimed to have been recorded moments after Kirk was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University.

Several users alleged that witnesses spotted the suspected gunman on the rooftop, describing the individual as “dressed in all black."

How Did Charlie Kirk Die?

Kirk was addressing attendees under a tented setup on campus as part of his tour when a round struck him in the neck. Multiple outlets reported the shot was fired from an elevated position near the Sorensen/Centre Stage area (which can be seen in the video below), consistent with early law-enforcement accounts that pointed to a sniper-style attack. He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Was The Shooter Caught?

Authorities initially detained at least one “person of interest," but the FBI later said that individual was released after questioning, and the investigation is ongoing. Statements from FBI Director Kash Patel and subsequent updates have reflected shifting status reports as agents track leads; as of late Wednesday, no suspect had been publicly charged.

Who Shot Charlie Kirk?

Unconfirmed names circulated on social media shortly after the shooting, then were retracted by the accounts that posted them. Officials have not identified a suspect, and outlets caution against sharing misidentifications while the investigation proceeds, reported people.com.

How Did Trump React?

President Trump announced Kirk’s death on social media, praised him as “great" and “legendary," and ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor through the week.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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!"

Also Read:  ‘Dark Moment For America’: Donald Trump Mourns Charlie Kirk’s Assassination, Vows Accountability

Who Was Charlie Kirk?

Kirk rose to prominence as a close ally of President Donald Trump and a leading voice in conservative youth politics. He co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and built a large media footprint through campus events, broadcasts, and social platforms.

What Officials Are Saying

Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the killing as a “political assassination," calling it a dark day for the state and the country. Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are assisting local police.

Also Read: Who Is Charlie Kirk? MAGA Influencer, Conservative Trump Ally Targeted In Campus Shooting

Authorities Continue Probe

Police and federal agents are still piecing together how the shooter positioned and fired the fatal shot and are urging caution about unverified online claims. Expect more details on the suspect, motive, and security lapses as investigators release confirmed information.

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