AMERICA IN CHAOS: Trump Ally Charlie Kirk Assassinated Onstage at Utah University – Manhunt Underway for ‘Dark-Clothed’ Gunman
- Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University, sparking massive manhunt
- Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, was addressing a crowd of 3,000 when a single shot rang out, leaving him with a fatal neck wound
- Authorities search for suspect, believed to have fired from a nearby rooftop, as Utah officials reveal a dark-clad figure was seen on CCTV footage
**BREAKING** In a shocking and gruesome attack, influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead onstage at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the United States. Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was just 31 years old.
According to eyewitnesses, Kirk was seated under a white gazebo, addressing a crowd of approximately 3,000 people in the university’s quad, when a single shot rang out around 12:20 local time. The terrified crowd was seen fleeing in panic as Kirk recoiled in his chair, with visible blood on his neck.
“I heard a loud shot, a loud bang, and then I saw his body actually – in slow motion – kind of fall over,” one eyewitness recounted. “We all dropped to the ground, and I want to say we sat like that for about 30 to 45 seconds, and then everyone around us got up and started running.”
Kirk was rushed to hospital in a private vehicle, where he was later pronounced dead. President Trump confirmed the tragedy on Truth Social, describing Kirk as “a great and even legendary” figure who “understood the heart of the youth in the United States better than anyone.”
The university campus has been evacuated, with heavily-armed police going door-to-door in search of the shooter. Authorities believe the suspect, dressed in dark clothing, fired the fatal shot from the roof of a nearby building. CCTV footage is currently being scrutinized, and two people arrested in the hours following the incident have since been released, with no connection to the shooting.
Kirk’s wife and two children were present at the scene but are safe. No other individuals were injured during the incident.
As tributes pour in from across the political spectrum, President Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across the country. Former US presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, as well as UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, have all expressed their condolences, condemning the senseless act of violence.
This shocking attack marks the latest in a string of high-profile assaults against political leaders in the US, with experts warning that the country is in a “very, very dangerous spot right now.”
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.