Charlie Kirk was a trusted ally of President Donald Trump and one of the most well-known conservative activists and media figures in the United States.
In what authorities are describing as a targeted shooting, he was shot dead on Wednesday at the age of 31 while presiding over a college function for Turning Point USA, the group he co-founded.
Kirk’s death was shockingly announced by President Donald Trump, who paid tribute on Truth Social: “Charlie Kirk, the Great and even Legendary, has passed away. Charlie was the best person to understand or possess the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America.
Kirk was viewed as both a highly divisive figure and the future of conservative activism.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
The architect’s son, Kirk was raised in the affluent Prospect Heights neighborhood of Chicago and attended a nearby community college before leaving to focus on his political activism.
When debating esoteric subjects like post-modernism with students and scholars, he frequently made lighthearted references to his lack of a college degree. He also made an unsuccessful application to West Point, the prestigious US military academy.
What did Charlie Kirk stand for?
Charlie Kirk was an individual who frequently discussed politics. He frequently debated issues like family, faith, and climate change with students on his podcast and social media accounts.
He didn’t trust the COVID-19 regulations, and he didn’t support transgender rights. He also made a false claim in 2020, claiming that Joe Biden had not actually won the election and that it had been “stolen” from Donald Trump.
Kirk frequently discussed gun rights. He once stated that the Second Amendment, which grants Americans the right to bear arms, should be upheld even though some people are killed by firearms every year.
Charlie was described as “an incredible guy” who loved his country by Donald Trump at the beginning of his podcast.
In 2012, Kirk founded Turning Point USA in response to Barack Obama’s election victory. Young people learn about money responsibility, free markets, and less government from this group. It now has groups in over 850 colleges.
Turning Point USA increased the number of votes cast for Trump and other Republicans. Charlie reportedly assisted Trump in winning in Arizona and helped register tens of thousands of new voters.
Trump and Kirk became good friends. Charlie visited the White House frequently and attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington, DC. Charlie even played golf with Trump shortly before his inauguration in 2025.
He went to Greenland in January with Trump’s son, because Trump wanted the United States to own the territory.
This year, Charlie also spoke at Oxford University. Based on Trump’s well-known catchphrase, “Make America Great Again,” he penned a book in 2020 titled “The Maga Doctrine.”
When was Kirk shot?
On Wednesday, Charlie Kirk was shot while discussing mass shootings while on his “American Comeback Tour.” It took place around 12:20 p.m. He was shot in the neck.
The shooter arrived at the university at 11:52 a.m., according to the police. The individual was captured on camera ascending stairs, reaching the roof, and then firing the shot. The gunman then fled into a neighboring neighborhood after running to the opposite side of the building and jumping off the roof.
Many cameras captured the moment Kirk was shot. Some people asked social media platforms to remove the videos because they were too gloomy and frightening, while others posted them online.
Attendees reported witnessing Charlie fall backward after being struck. Everyone began to hide and run.
According to one witness, he saw Charlie’s body fall to the ground and blood pour out of him. Another individual expressed his surprise at the event’s lack of metal detectors, ticket checks, and security checks.
Charlie’s team hurried him to the hospital in a private vehicle, but he passed away there.
Who shot Charlie Kirk?
The identity of Charlie Kirk’s shooter is unknown. The individual is still being sought by the police.
According to officers at a meeting on Wednesday night, the shooter fired a single shot from the roof of a university building known as the Losee Center while wearing all black. A dark figure was seen moving on that roof, roughly 150 yards from Charlie’s seat, according to the videos. However, this is just a speculation as the story is still in a developing phase.
The FBI claimed to have located a powerful bolt-action rifle in a forested area that they believe was the weapon used. Additionally, they discovered a mark from someone’s arm and a shoe print that they are examining.
This year, Charlie also spoke at Oxford University. Based on Trump’s well-known catchphrase, “Make America Great Again,” he penned a book in 2020 titled “The Maga Doctrine.”
What do we know about the suspect?
The shooter of Charlie Kirk has not yet been apprehended by the authorities.
The FBI in Salt Lake City posted two images of a “person of interest” on Thursday and requested assistance in identifying him.
In a wooded area close to the university, the FBI also reported finding a large rifle, a palm print, a shoe print, and marks from a person’s arm.
A slender white man is depicted in the pictures sporting a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, and a dark sweater with an American flag on it.
According to police, the shooter blended in with the crowd and appeared to be a college student. Following the shooting, videos also showed someone fleeing and jumping from a roof.
About 130 meters from Kirk, on the roof of one building known as the Losee Center, the shooter is thought to have been hiding.
Witnesses reported seeing Charlie fall to the ground after hearing a loud bang. Everyone fell to the ground, and soon after, there was a rush to escape.
Final Thoughts
In the end, people on the internet are divided about the death news of Charlie Kirk. Some people think that, as his views about “gun deaths” were controversial and he never showed any support for genocide in Palestine, he probably deserved it. On the other hand, people are feeling bad about his demise as any political violence is an attack on democracy.
How his death will unfold and what speculations might just become true are only a matter of time.
