Conservative American political commentator Charlie Kirk was killed during a university event in the western state of Utah on Wednesday, according to officials and eyewitness video.
Footage posted on social media showed Kirk sitting and addressing hundreds of students gathered at Utah Valley University when what sounded like a gunshot rang out.
A separate video shot near where Kirk spoke shows Kirk being shot in the neck, followed by bleeding.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that Kirk died after being shot.
“The great, even legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or had the heart of the youth of the United States of America better than Charlie,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “He was loved and admired by everyone, especially me, and now he is no longer with us,” Trump added.
He also stated that there had never been someone whom the youth respected so much.
“Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith. And we are comforted to know that he is now at peace with God in heaven. This is a dark time for America,” he said.
In the end, Trump blamed leftists for this case as well.
“We will find everyone who contributed to this crime and other political violence. Radical left-wing political violence has hurt too many innocent people,” he concluded.
The flag at the White House was flown at half-staff in his honor.
Utah Valley University confirmed that no suspects were in custody following the shooting, which occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. (18:20 GMT), shortly after Kirk began speaking on the university’s Orem campus.
“The campus was immediately evacuated. The campus is on lockdown, and classes are canceled until further notice. We ask that those still on campus remain in their homes until officers can safely escort them off campus,” spokeswoman Ellen Treanor said in a statement.
Treanor said the shooting is being investigated by the Orem Police Department, the University Police Department, the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
The Orem Police Department said it had no immediate comment on the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk.
“Agents will be on scene shortly, and the FBI is fully supporting the ongoing response and investigation,” Patel said.
