Charlie Kirk pins are seen on a table on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
On this day: Charlie Kirk fatally shot at Utah Valley University
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Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The incident occurred around 12:20–12:23 PM local time as Kirk, seated under a tent, engaged with audience members on topics including gun violence and mass shootings.
A single shot struck him in the neck; he was rushed to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.
Authorities determined the shot was fired from a rooftop approximately 140–200 yards away.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the killing as a “political assassination,” stating: “This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation.”
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on social media, writing: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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.”
Kirk, a prominent ally of Trump and influential voice among young conservatives, had co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012.
The event marked the start of his “American Comeback Tour.
Roughly 3,000 people attended. Video and eyewitness accounts showed the sudden chaos that followed the shot, with spectators reacting in shock as Kirk slumped.
Two days later, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Washington, Utah, was taken into custody after allegedly surrendering with family involvement.
Prosecutors charged him with aggravated murder and related offenses, announcing they would seek the death penalty and citing evidence that included alleged text messages and a note indicating he planned to target Kirk.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty.
As of the one-year mark on September 10, 2026, the case remains ongoing.
A preliminary hearing in July 2026 established probable cause for trial; Robinson faces multiple felony counts. A further court appearance is scheduled for late October, when a trial date may be set.
Prosecutors have presented surveillance video and other evidence linking him to the scene.
Kirk left behind a wife, Erika Kirk, and two young children.
Following his death, Erika Kirk assumed the role of CEO of Turning Point USA.
The organization has continued its campus activities, and anniversary remembrances, including events at Utah Valley University, have taken place amid ongoing public discussion of political violence.
