CLEVELAND (WJW) -- Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer who was shot during an event in Utah and died Wednesday, was scheduled to make an appearance in Cleveland later this month.

Earlier this year, the Center for Christian Virtue announced the 31-year-old podcast host and co-founder of Turning Point as the keynote speaker for its 2025 Celebration Gala Cleveland taking place on Sept. 26 at the downtown Marriott.

Kirk was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being shot in the neck at Utah Valley University in Orem, outside of Salt Lake City. President Donald Trump announced on social media around 4:45 p.m. that Kirk had died.

The Center for Christian Value released a statement to FOX 8 News from its president Aaron Baer just prior to the news of Kirk's passing, as seen

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