Manhunt for shooter continues after Charlie Kirk killed in ‘political assassination’

Charlie Kirk, the founding father of the conservative youth activist group Turning Level USA, has died after he was shot throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College on Wednesday, President Donald Trump mentioned.

“The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is useless,” Trump mentioned on social media. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in america of America higher than Charlie. He was cherished and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s not with us. Melania and my Sympathies exit to his lovely spouse Erika, and household. Charlie, we love you!”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to as the deadly taking pictures a “political assassination.”

The manhunt for the suspected shooter remains to be underway and the investigation remains to be ongoing, in line with FBI Director Kash Patel.

The Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned in an replace Wednesday evening that two individuals had been initially taken into custody after the taking pictures however later launched.

The primary was launched and later charged with obstruction by college police. The second particular person was taken into custody and launched after an “interrogation” by legislation enforcement, the division mentioned.

Utah authorities mentioned “there are not any present ties to the taking pictures with both of those people.”

A single shot was fired on Utah Valley College’s Orem campus towards Kirk, a visiting speaker, shortly after midday, the varsity mentioned.

“He was hit and brought from the placement by his safety,” the college mentioned.

Kirk, 31, was taken to a hospital after being shot, in line with Turning Level USA, which mentioned, “with a heavy coronary heart that we verify that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gun shot” in the course of the campus occasion.

“We ask that everybody hold his household and family members in your prayers,” the group mentioned.

Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason referred to as the taking pictures a “focused assault,” and mentioned the scene is a “very massive space.”

Mason mentioned the “solely info” they’ve on the attainable shooter was taken from CCTV on campus, and that the particular person was wearing all darkish clothes. The shot was fired on campus from a “longer distance,” doubtlessly from a roof, he mentioned.

There isn’t any proof that anybody else was concerned, in line with authorities.

Salt Lake Metropolis FBI Particular Agent in Cost Robert Bohls mentioned the investigation is within the early phases.

“We’re following all of the leads and all of the proof,” he mentioned in the course of the press briefing on Wednesday.

The daddy of two younger youngsters was a Trump confidant on the forefront of a burgeoning conservative youth motion. Often called the “Trump whisperer,” Kirk was deeply concerned in vetting high positions for the administration following the election and was in fixed communication with high advisers and the president himself.

“It is horrific. It is one of the vital horrible issues I’ve ever seen,” Trump instructed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

“He was a terrific man,” Trump mentioned. “He was a superb man. He was an unbelievable man. No one like him.”

FBI and ATF brokers are on the scene, in line with Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi.

FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned earlier the company “stands in full assist of the continued response and investigation.”

There was a dialogue about shootings when the one shot was fired in the course of the occasion.

Utah Valley pupil Luke Pitman, who witnessed the taking pictures, instructed Salt Lake Metropolis ABC affiliate KTVX that he heard a “massive bang.”

“We thought it was confetti. Then, everybody began ducking down,” he instructed the station. “After which, I look over at Charlie Kirk and I see blood coming from his neck.”

Utah Sen. Mike Lee mentioned he’s “monitoring the scenario at Utah Valley College intently.”

“Please be part of me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the scholars gathered there,” he mentioned on social media earlier Wednesday.

Vice President JD Vance referred to as Kirk “a genuinely good man and a younger father” whereas urging prayers within the aftermath of the taking pictures.

Cox mentioned earlier he was being briefed “following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk” in the course of the conservative political activist’s go to to the campus.

“These accountable can be held totally accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Individuals of each political persuasion should unite in condemning this act,” he mentioned on X.

The college was the primary cease this fall for Turning Level USA’s “The American Comeback Tour,” which is touring to a number of school campuses across the nation. The tour has deliberate stops in Utah, Colorado, Minneapolis, Virginia and elsewhere, in line with its web site.

An occasion that includes Kirk at Utah Valley College on Wednesday was anticipated to incorporate a “show me flawed” desk, in line with the tour’s web site.

Forward of Kirk’s go to to Utah Valley College, some college students began an on-line petition asking college directors to cease him from coming.

Although Kirk’s go to was controversial on campus, police had been monitoring no particular or credible threats earlier than the deadly taking pictures, Utah legislation enforcement sources instructed ABC Information.

Greater than 3,000 individuals had been estimated to be on the occasion, in line with the college’s police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six law enforcement officials, together with Kirk’s non-public safety, in line with Lengthy.

“We educated for this stuff, and also you assume you have got issues coated, and this stuff, sadly, they occur,” Lengthy mentioned throughout Wednesday’s press briefing.

Utah Valley College’s campus is closed and courses have been canceled till additional discover, the varsity mentioned.

“We’re shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk,” Utah Valley College Vice President Val Peterson mentioned throughout Wednesday’s press briefing. “We specific our honest condolences to the Kirk household. We grieve with our college students, school and workers who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy.”

Peterson mentioned the college’s Turning Level USA pupil group invited Kirk to talk on the campus, which he mentioned is seen as a “place to share concepts and to debate brazenly and respectfully.”

“Any try and infringe on these rights has no place right here,” he mentioned. “We don’t condone any type of violence at UVU and search to make our campus a secure place for all.”

There isn’t any name to shelter in place right now, in line with Orem Mayor Dave Younger, who urged individuals to report something suspicious to police.

“We’re devastated by right now’s occasions,” Younger mentioned in a press release. “This kind of violence ought to by no means occur anyplace, not to mention in our group. That is in direct opposition to our values, which embrace household, unity, respect and religion.”

The incident sparked speedy condemnation from leaders on each side of the political aisle.

“There isn’t any place in our nation for this type of violence. It should finish now,” Former President Joe Biden mentioned. “Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s household and family members.”

“The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising kind of unconscionable violence can’t be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, mentioned on X.

Fellow Democratic governor, California’s Gavin Newsom, mentioned on X that the “assault on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In america of America, we should reject political violence in EVERY type.”

Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo mentioned the “assault was sickening and heartbreaking, and there’s no place — ever — for violence in American politics.”

Trump has ordered all American flags all through the nation to be lowered to half-staff by way of Sunday night in Kirk’s honor. 

Kirk had two youngsters, a 3-year-old woman and a 1-year-old boy, along with his spouse, Erika.

He was thought-about an enormous star on the far proper by many conservative pundits and seen as main the subsequent technology of Trump’s MAGA motion.

He based the conservative advocacy group Turning Level USA in 2012, on the age of 18.

The group helped to advertise Trump, particularly with highschool and college-age voters. The group and Kirk had an enormous following with conservatives, notably males, and he was in a position to parlay that recognition into assist for Trump’s marketing campaign.

Throughout the 2016 Republican Nationwide Conference, Kirk spoke to an enthusiastic crowd as one of many youngest audio system. He was the opening speaker on the 2020 RNC.

“Charlie Kirk was a father, husband, and devoted patriot who spent his life defending conservative values and galvanizing younger Individuals,” Republican Nationwide Committee Chairman Joe Gruters mentioned in a press release. “Our hearts break for his spouse, youngsters, family members, and numerous supporters throughout the nation. The horrifying violence at Utah Valley College that took the lifetime of Charlie Kirk is completely appalling. Republicans and Democrats alike should stand united in condemning this brutality that has no place in America.”

Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Ken Martin referred to as the taking pictures “one more horrific act of focused political violence.”

“Although we’re nonetheless awaiting additional particulars, in all chance, he was murdered for expressing his beliefs,” Martin mentioned in a press release. “Let me be clear: even when you disagree with somebody’s beliefs, even when you stand in opposition to each single factor they stand for, the trail of disagreement must not ever result in what occurred right now at Utah Valley College.”

ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

This can be a creating story. Please verify again for updates.