OREM, Utah — Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk died after being shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump confirmed the death of his close ally, sharing on Truth Social, "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."

After several hours of questions about the shooter, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media that "the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody." He later said the "subject in custody" had been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.

"Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency," Patel said in a post on X.

He did not immediately provide any additional information. Earlier, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox had also confirmed that a "person of interest" is in custody.

Livestream video of the event showed crowds of people running from the university’s courtyard where Kirk, 31, was speaking when the shooting occurred. Police said that roughly 3,000 people were in attendance at about 12:20 local time.

The university said the campus is closed and classes are canceled until Monday. Following the shooting, the school urged people to immediately leave the campus as police continue their investigation.

Confusion and fear quickly spread across the campus.

“No one should die over something like this. Whether you’re in support or not, it’s a tragedy,” Tyler Knudsen, a sophomore at the university who attended the gathering, told USA TODAY.

FBI now says the 'subject' in custody 'has been released'

Patel said the FBI has released a person of interest in the shooting death of Kirk, less than two hours after he announced publicly that the bureau had that person in custody.

"The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement," Patel said in a post on X at 7:59 p.m. ET. "Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency."

Patel had earlier posted, at 6:21 p.m. ET, that a subject – FBI speak for a person of interest – had been apprehended.

"We refer you to the Director's post and have nothing additional to provide," the FBI said when reached for comment late Wednesday.

— Josh Meyer

Officials provide more information about the suspected shooter

Utah Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety Beau Mason told reporters during a news conference that authorities found potential information about the shooter on area CCTV.

"We do know he was dressed in all dark clothing, but we don't have much better info than that," he told reporters.

Authorities are trying to see if the person in custody matches the person in the security footage, Mason said. He added that the gunshot might have been fired from a rooftop on campus, but law enforcement officials aren't certain yet.

The FBI's Salt Lake City field office announced on X that it has set up a digital media tip line for information about the shooting. The Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI are leading the criminal investigation, according to Mason.

'Nothing like this happens in Utah'

Hours after the fatal shooting of Kirk, the locked-down Utah Valley University campus was quiet. Law enforcement agents carrying machine guns and an officer with a police dog were among the few walking around.

Marked and unmarked police vehicles blocked traffic from entering campus off University Parkway as SUVs and trucks from a variety of nearby cities and county police agencies lined the curbs in front of the Browning Administration and Keller buildings and up Campus Drive.

Flowers — purple mums, white and yellow lilies, and pink roses — had been laid near the university sign.

Lance Suaste, a junior at the university, was walking past the nearby Mountain Run apartments, having just been dropped off after spending the day at a friend’s house. He said he was near the Lossee Center shortly after noon when he saw people running.

Suaste and friends asked what was happening and were told about the shooting. As the campus was being locked down, he went to his car and spent the day with friends.

“Nothing like this happens in Utah. It doesn’t feel real, so it’s very shocking,” Suaste said. He said the shooting was terrible, but he wasn’t worried about the shooter still being at large. He planned to spend the rest of the day in the dorm – as usual.

— Melissa Galbraith

'In the crosshairs': Left fears 'vengeance' after Kirk killing

A top progressive political commentator is worried that Kirk's killing could open the door to acts of "vengeance" from people upset over the shooting.

"Part of me worries about the vengeance that will go on in the aftermath of this," said Hasan Piker, a left-wing commentator who livestreams his reactions to the news to millions of followers. "This puts a lot of people I know, including myself, in the crosshairs."

The Twitch live streamer's comments came as he watched influential right-wing figures demonize progressives in the wake of the shooting, even as it remained unclear who was behind the attack.

"They sent a trained sniper to assassinate Charlie Kirk while he was sitting next to a table of hats that said 47," posted Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer who is known for having the ear of Trump. "The Left are terrorists."

"I suspect the administration will use this as an opportunity to go after as many people as possible that they have declared ideological enemies," Piker told viewers. "Sky's the limit here."

— Michael Loria

'This is a political assassination'

Cox told reporters that officials have a person of interest in custody after the shocking shooting, but he also said during a news conference that "whoever did this, we will find you."

"This is a dark day for our state, it’s a tragic day for our nation," Cox said. "I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination."

The governor said he has been in contact with Trump and Patel.

6 police officers were working at the campus event

Jeff Long, chief of the Utah Valley University Police Department, said the event on Wednesday was held at an open outdoor venue.

The event was "in kind of a bowl area here on the central campus," Long said at the news conference. "We have a waterfall area, and so he (Kirk) was kind of in a lower area surrounded by buildings."

Six officers were working the event, where more than 3,000 people were in attendance, according to Long. The police chief noted that police officers in plain clothes were also in the crowd, along with Kirk's private security team.

"We trained for these things. And you think you have things covered. And these things, unfortunately, they happen," Long added. "You try to get your bases covered. And unfortunately, today we didn’t, and because of that, we had this tragic incident."

'No one should die over something like this'

UVU sophomores Dario Perez and Knudsen had been at the university's Lossee Center for about 20 minutes when they heard pops and what they said sounded like fireworks.

“Everyone ducked for a second,” Perez told USA TODAY. “Then panic set in.”

“Hysteria” swept through the outdoor crowd as the audience realized Kirk had been shot, the two students said.

“It was a big shock moment,” Knudsen said, adding that members of the crowd then started running away.

He and Perez said they were surprised there was not more security, given the controversial speaker and the size of the crowd. They said they’d bought tickets for the event, but when they arrived, there were no ticket takers or metal detectors.

The students said they are not Kirk supporters, but they “wanted to hear both sides” of the debate.

Trump orders American flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk

Trump on Wednesday ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until Saturday night in honor of Kirk, calling it a “mark of respect.”

“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us," Trump shared. "Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

Turning Point USA mourns death of founder

Turning Point USA, the largest conservative youth organization in the country, said in a social media post just before 6 p.m. EDT, “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot.”

“We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers,” the organization said. “We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity at this time.”

Former President Joe Biden sends condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family

Former President Joe Biden offered his condolences to Kirk’s family on social media.

"There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” Biden wrote on X. “Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones."

– Terry Collins

JD Vance reacts to Charlie Kirk's death

Vice President JD Vance shared Trump's statement confirming Kirk's death on X.

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord," Vance said.

'I’ve seen things I’ve never seen before'

Eva Terry and Emma Pitts, two reporters from the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah, arrived on the Utah Valley University campus early Wednesday to talk to the excited crowd decked out in red, white and blue that had gathered for Turning Point USA event.

Hours later, Terry told a USA TODAY reporter: “I’ve seen things I’ve never seen before.”

Kirk had called up one student and answered a question, then called on a second student, who asked: "How many mass shooters have been transgender," Terry said. "Too many," responded Kirk, Terry said.

When the student asked a follow-up question, “(Kirk) picked up his microphone, and before he was able to speak, a bullet hit the left side of his neck, and it was pretty bloody,” Terry said.

“Then he fell off his chair, and then everyone dropped to the ground,” she said. “I didn’t see anyone catch him. I saw him slump out of his chair, and that’s the last thing I saw."

Like many, after hearing the single shot, Terry said she and Pitts first ducked to the ground, holding on to each other and saying a prayer. Then they ran, seeking shelter in a nearby building.

Who is Charlie Kirk?

Kirk became a national figure as a conservative influencer and as the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that pushes for conservative politics on high school and college campuses.

In 2024, he spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he gave a speech that focused on what Kirk says he heard from young people around the United States.

He was married to Erika Kirk, an entrepreneur, and the father of two children. Their daughter was born in August 2022, and they had a son in 2024.

Kirk had 5.3 million followers on X and hosted a popular podcast and radio program, "The Charlie Kirk Show." He had also recently co-hosted "Fox & Friends" on Fox News.

He was part of an ecosystem of pro-Trump conservative influencers – including Jack Posobiec, Laura Loomer, Candace Owens, and others – who have helped to amplify the president's agenda. Kirk frequently attacked mainstream media and engaged in culture war issues around race, gender and immigration, often in a provocative style.

Video shows crowd reacting to the shooting

Videos of the shooting posted to social media show Kirk seated beneath a tent and speaking about gang violence into a microphone when he’s hit in the neck. Kirk slumps over as he begins to bleed from the gunshot wound.

Social media platforms, including YouTube and X, have begun removing videos of the attack.

A video taken from the top of the venue where Kirk was speaking shows members of the crowd reacting to the attack by dropping to the ground and then running from the scene. One shot can be heard in the video.

Additional videos of the event show the aftermath of the shooting. Attendees duck for cover and return to pick up items they had abandoned.

– Michael Loria

Charlie Kirk killing comes amid recent political violence

The motive for the attack on Kirk is unknown, but it comes after a string of recent political violence across the United States.

A man was indicted by a federal grand jury in July for allegedly fatally shooting Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog, and shooting and injuring State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.

In April, another man was charged with crimes including attempted murder after setting fire to a portion of Gov. Josh Shapiro's home in Pennsylvania.

In 2024, Trump was grazed by a bullet during a campaign event in Pennsylvania and targeted in a second assassination attempt two months later. The suspect accused in the foiled attack at his Florida golf club is currently standing trial.

Kamala Harris 'deeply disturbed' by Utah shooting

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement she is "deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah."

"Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family," Harris said on social media. "Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence."

Gavin Newsom denounces political violence after Charlie Kirk shooting

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who interviewed Kirk on a recent podcast episode, weighed in calling the attack "disgusting, vile, and reprehensible."

"In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form," wrote Newsom.

RFK Jr. responds to Charlie Kirk shooting

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has participated in several of Kirk's podcasts and with whom he held a Make America Healthy Again Town Hall, sent well wishes to the conservative activist. "We love you Charlie Kirk. Praying for you," Kennedy wrote on X.

– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

Kirk shot after controversy over speaking engagement

Utah Valley University was the latest stop on Kirk’s The American Comeback Tour with his organization Turning Point USA. The event was scheduled for 12 p.m. local time on Sept. 10.

Almost 1,000 people had signed a petition to bar Kirk from speaking at the university. More than 6,800 people had signed a petition requesting that the faculty prevent Kirk from speaking at a similar event at Utah State University.

“Allowing him to speak on our campus would not only misrepresent the values we hold dear but also create an environment where divisive rhetoric could flourish,” the petition read.

The university affirmed its "commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue" and urged faculty and staff to keep institutional communication neutral in a statement days before the shooting.

"UVU, including its leaders speaking on behalf of the institution, does not take official positions on political, social, or cultural controversies unless they directly impact our mission, operations, or core values," the statement said. "This neutrality ensures that our campus remains a true marketplace of ideas, where faculty, staff, and students are empowered to express viewpoints without institutional bias."

Contributing: Karissa Waddick and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Kirk fatally shot at campus event; 'person of interest' released: Live updates

Reporting by N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Joey Garrison, Josh Meyer, Aysha Bagchi, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Bart Jansen, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Michael Loria and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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