By: Bethany Aline
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/10/25 – The tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in a tragedy that has sent shockwaves across the political spectrum.
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, helped build it into a national platform for conservative youth activism, focusing primarily on engaging college students in right-leaning political discourse. He was also the host of the popular Charlie Kirk Show, a daily podcast and radio program that reached hundreds of thousands of listeners. His work extended to speaking tours across the country, including his well-known “American Comeback Tour,” and numerous published commentaries on politics, culture, and religion.
The Shooting
At approximately 12:10 p.m. (MDT), while answering a question from the audience on stage at UVU, Kirk was struck by a single gunshot to the neck. Eyewitnesses and footage captured the moment he collapsed, triggering panic as attendees scrambled for cover and emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Multiple cellphone videos circulated on social media showed the immediate aftermath and chaotic scenes of students fleeing, bystanders screaming, and security teams rushing to assist. Blood was visible on the stage floor, and within minutes, first responders had transported Kirk to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Investigators believe the shot came from an elevated position in a nearby building, estimated at a distance of 180 to 200 yards. One man was initially taken into custody but later released after being cleared. As of this writing, the shooter remains unidentified and at large, and both the FBI and ATF are involved in the ongoing investigation.
By 2:01 p.m., the university initiated a full lockdown, canceling all classes and evacuating students and faculty. Later that afternoon, authorities confirmed that Kirk had succumbed to his injuries.
He was 31 years old, and is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children. While Erika Kirk has not made a public statement herself, the organization’s request on her behalf to respect the family’s space and wishes during this time of grief.
