Latest: Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale will feature President Trump
/ Ross D. Franklin/AP
Glendale memorial on Sept. 21
A memorial service for Turning Point USA founder and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The event is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and set to begin Sunday morning.
House approves resolution honoring Charlie Kirk with dozens of Democrats opposed
The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday, but a significant number of Democrats voted against it, highlighting the deepening political divide in the wake of his assassination.
The resolution, which praised “the life and legacy” of Kirk, passed the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes in favor. While 95 Democrats supported the resolution, 58 voted against it and 38 voted “present,” effectively abstaining. Republicans had warned ahead of the vote that no one should oppose the measure, but many Democrats said they felt Kirk’s death had been politicized and the resolution elevated views they disagreed with.
“Today's resolution underscores the majority's recklessness by choosing to author this condemnation and honoring on a purely partisan basis," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a high-profile Democrat who voted against the resolution. “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was.”
Speaker Mike Johnson said there was “no partisan language” in the resolution and there was “no excuse” for anyone not to vote in favor of it.
Glendale police say 100,000 expected for Charlie Kirk memorial
- Local, state and federal law enforcement are working together to prepare for the memorial event honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which is expected to attract 100,000 people or more to State Farm Stadium on Sunday.
Analysis: Arizona Republicans want a Charlie Kirk freeway. Will Dems fight it?
Marcus Dell’Artino of First Strategic and Sam Richard of Consillium Consulting joined The Show to talk about Arizona state Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) wanting to rename part of a freeway after Charlie Kirk.
'What he ultimately changed the most about me was just feeling comfortable to speak about Jesus and God in a public manner'
Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk will be memorialized this weekend at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. For some context on Kirk’s legacy, The Show recently spoke with someone who knew Kirk personally.
What to know about Erika Kirk
Erika Kirk — a faith-based entrepreneur who has advocated for women to prioritize family over career — will officially lead Turning Point USA, the right-wing youth organization that her late husband Charlie Kirk created.
The group announced Thursday that its board unanimously elected her to be its CEO and board chair, saying Charlie had told multiple executives that is what he wanted to happen in the event of his death.
Cost unclear for Charlie Kirk's memorial in Arizona
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority owns the stadium in Glendale. An authority spokesperson says event contracts, done by a separate stadium manager, are confidential.
Erika Kirk is new leader of Turning Point USA
- Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie Kirk founded to mobilize young, Christian conservatives, has seen a massive surge in interest and support since the activist's assassination last week.
State lawmaker wants death penalty for political killings in Arizona
Rep. Quang Nguyen said he wants to deter anyone who would target people for their political beliefs.
Separately, Senate President Warren Petersen wants lawmakers to approve a measure renaming a major freeway after Kirk.
Jimmy Kimmel off the air after Charlie Kirk comments
ABC announced Wednesday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be off the air indefinitely following comments regarding speculation swirling around the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Concerns about emotional, political toll of Charlie Kirk shooting video
- Graphic videos of the Charlie Kirk shooting spread widely online, raising concerns over the emotional and political toll of exposure to violent imagery.
U.S. is at ‘an inflection point’ after Charlie Kirk killing, Obama says
Former President Barack Obama says that the United States is at “an inflection point” following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and that President Donald Trump has further divided the country rather than work to bring people together.
“There are no ifs, ands or buts about it: The central premise of our democratic system is that we have to be able to disagree and have sometimes really contentious debates without resorting to violence,” Obama said Tuesday night during an event in Erie, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Jefferson Education Society, according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press.
“And when it happens to some, but even if you think they’re, quote, unquote, on the other side of the argument, that’s a threat to all of us," he said. "And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them.”
Obama has kept somewhat of a low profile in his post-presidency. Responding to a moderator's questions Tuesday, he addressed Trump's rhetoric after Kirk's assassination, as well as other administrative actions.
The Democrat spoke about his own leadership following the 2015 slaying of nine Black parishioners at a Charleston, South Carolina, church, as well as Republican then-President George W. Bush’s actions following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He said he sees the role of a president in a crisis “to constantly remind us of the ties that bind us together."
The sentiment among Trump and his aides following Kirk's killing of calling political opponents "vermin, enemies … speaks to a broader problem," Obama said.
Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics, became a confidant of Trump after founding Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations. Trump has escalated threats to crack down on what he describes as the “radical left” following Kirk’s assassination, stirring fears his Republican administration is trying to harness outrage over the killing to suppress political opposition.
Trump's White House on Wednesday responded to Obama's remarks by blaming him for animosity in the country, calling him “the architect of modern political division in America.”
“Obama used every opportunity to sow division and pit Americans against each other, and following his presidency more Americans felt Obama divided the country than felt he united it,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
What gun violence trends say about recent attacks
- Mass shootings, political violence and school safety are front of mind for many Americans following a recent spate of high-profile attacks. Experts who study gun violence unpack the data and trends.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing could face death penalty
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was charged on Tuesday with aggravated murder, a prosecutor announced, saying Robinson left behind his DNA on the trigger of the rifle that fired the fatal shot.
The charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges.
Kirk was gunned down on Sept. 10 as he spoke with students and died soon after. Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building.
A Utah Valley University police officer was watching the university campus crowd from an “elevated position” and identified the roof of the Losee Center as a potential position for a shooter, Gray said. The officer found evidence on the roof immediately, he said, and spurred officers to direct their attention to surveillance video leading to the roof.
Gray said Robinson discarded the rifle and clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence. Robinson left a note under a keyboard saying he planned to kill Kirk and confessed after the shooting, documents show.
Robinson also was charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing Tuesday afternoon.
It was unclear whether Robinson had an attorney who could speak on his behalf, and his family has declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Robinson appears to have stayed in the area after shooting Kirk and ditching his rifle, authorities said.
Text messages shared with a roommate
In a text exchange with his roommate released by authorities, Robinson wrote, “I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.”
Then he wrote: “Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.” And after that, he sent: “I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it.”
The texts shared in court documents do not have timestamps, and it’s unclear how long after the shooting Robinson was texting.
Robinson was arrested late Thursday near St. George, the southern Utah community where he grew up.
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of where the shooting happened.
Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics, became a confidant of President Donald Trump after founding Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations. He brought young, conservative evangelical Christians into politics. His shooting raised fears about increasing political violence in a deeply polarized United States.
While authorities say Robinson hasn’t been cooperating with investigators, they say his family and friends have been talking. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said over the weekend that those who know Robinson say his politics shifted left in recent years and he spent a lot of time in the “dark corners of the internet.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were looking at “anyone and everyone” who was involved in a gaming chatroom on the social media platform Discord with Robinson. The chatroom involved “a lot more” than 20 people, Patel said Tuesday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington.
“We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence,” Patel said in response to a question about whether the Kirk shooting was being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups.
The search for a motive
Investigators are working on finding a motive for the attack, Utah’s governor said Sunday, adding that more information may come out once Robinson appears for his initial court hearing.
Cox said Robinson’s romantic partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign the suspect was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views. But authorities have not said whether that played a role. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings, gun violence and transgender people.
Gray declined to answer a question about whether transgender issues played a role in the motive behind Kirk’s shooting. He pointed to the charging documents, saying they summed up those points.
The charges against Robinson
The charges filed Tuesday carry two enhancements including committing several of the crimes in front of or close to children and carrying out violence based on the subject’s political beliefs.
Gray declined to say whether Robinson’s roommate could face charges or whether anyone else might face charges. He also declined to say whether Robinson was cooperating or whether his parents or roommate had continued to cooperate.
In the days since Kirk’s assassination, Americans have found themselves facing questions about rising political violence, the deep divisions that brought the nation here and whether anything can change.
Despite calls for greater civility, some who opposed Kirk’s provocative statements about gender, race and politics criticized him after his death. Many Republicans have led the push to punish anyone they believe dishonored him, causing both public and private workers to lose their jobs or face other consequences at work.
'This isn’t a both-sides problem. This is a one-side problem'
/ Ross D. Franklin/AP
Thousands gathered Monday at Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena to mourn Charlie Kirk and pledged to continue his legacy.
Tyler Bowyer, the leader of Turning Point’s political arm, told a crowd of thousands that this is the time to fight.
“If this crazy leftist radicalization is happening in Utah, it’s happening everywhere,” Bowyer said. “It’s absolutely everywhere, and this isn’t a both-sides problem. This is a one-side problem.”
Charlie Kirk vigil begins at Arizona State University's Tempe campus
An event honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk held by Turning Point's Arizona State University chapter began at 5:30 p.m. Monday on the university's Tempe campus.
The event was moved to Desert Financial Arena from Hayden Lawn, according to ASU officials.
Vance closes Charlie Kirk’s show with a call to confront ‘far left’ violence
“We can come together in this country. I believe we must. But unity, real unity, can only be found after climbing the mountain of truth,” Vice President JD Vance said Monday while hosting Charlie Kirk's radio show.
Vance said “this is not a both sides problem.”
He did not reference any recent attacks on Democrats, such as the killing of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, nor did he mention the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“Something has gone very wrong with a lunatic fringe — a minority, but a growing and powerful minority on the far left,” he said.
Vance said “our government will be working hard” to “bring real unity” to our country.
Vance also welcomed Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, as his first guest, and the conversation turned toward fighting what the vice president described as “festering violence on the far left.”
“With God as my witness, we’re going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,” Miller said.
Miller added that “it will happen, and we will do it in Charlie’s name.”
Vance used similar rhetoric in his own remarks, saying “we’re going to go after the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence.”
Law enforcement officials have said they believe the suspect accused of killing Kirk acted alone.
Memorials are held in Washington, Arizona and elsewhere
A vigil at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was among numerous tributes to Kirk on Sunday. The line of mourners in Washington wrapped around the center.
Kirk also was memorialized at Dream City Church in Phoenix, where he hosted one of his “Freedom Night in America” gatherings. Attendees viewed clips of Kirk discussing his desire to be “remembered for courage for my faith.” Angel Barnett, a church pastor, called on the crowd to honor Kirk by carrying on his message.
Flowers, U.S. flags and handwritten messages were left at a makeshift memorial at Utah Valley University’s main entrance. The school has said there will be increased security when classes resume Wednesday.
Turning Point USA, Kirk's conservative organization, will hold a memorial for him Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium outside Phoenix, where the Arizona Cardinals play. Kirk's casket arrived Thursday in his home state aboard Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.
His widow, Erika Kirk, vowed to continue his campus tour and his radio and podcast shows.
“To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” she said Friday in a livestreamed video. “It won’t. I refuse to let that happen.”
Utah prosecutors book suspect accused of killing Charlie Kirk
Utah prosecutors have booked the suspect accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on an aggravated murder charge.
Tyler Robinson was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and the felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, authorities said.
The 22-year-old Utah resident has been detained in a county jail since he turned himself over to police in connection with the assassination of the conservative influencer Wednesday during an outdoor appearance at Utah Valley University. Robinson is being held without bail.
Widow of Charlie Kirk speaks out for the 1st time since his assassination
Erika Kirk, the wife of late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, broke her silence following the assassination of her husband at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
In a public address on Turning Point USA’s streaming platforms, the former Miss Arizona winner thanked people for their support and recognizing the activism of her husband.
Analysis: Charlie Kirk tragedy deepens contempt, despair in America
To talk about the political mood following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, another possible ethics complaint at the Arizona Capitol and more, The Show sat down with Paul Bentz and Dawn Penich.
A timeline of Charlie Kirk's shooting and the search for a suspect
Authorities said the suspect in Kirk's killing, Tyler Robinson, was detained on Thursday night — less than 36 hours after the shooting. Here's what happened in between.
Flowers, flags left outside Phoenix mortuary where Charlie Kirk's casket was brought
The scene outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, where Charlie Kirk's casket was taken by motorcade from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
22-year-old Utah man is charged with murder in Charlie Kirk shooting
The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was being held Friday at the Utah County jail. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that he be held without bail. Formal charges are expected early next week.
Robinson had become “more political” recently and had indicated to a family friend afterwards that he was responsible, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The governor also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed to have been used in the attack, as well as chatting app messages that a roommate shared with law enforcement after the shooting.
Cox said Robinson is believed to have acted alone. He would not say if Robinson is cooperating with authorities. The suspect’s father saw surveillance photos and worked with a pastor to encourage his surrender, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
The assassination shows how ordinary security measures can be defeated in this era of escalating political violence, when anyone associated with the political process is a potential target.
Trump says 'with a high degree of certainty' that suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been caught
The suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination has been captured, President Donald Trump said Friday in an announcement representing a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.
“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel. He said a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect, whose name was not immediately known, in to authorities.
“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.
The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately comment, but a news conference in Utah, where the killing took place on a college campus this week, was planned for later Friday. News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.
Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, based in Arizona.
Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.
Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.
“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”
Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.
More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to publicly name the suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.
Grisly video shared online
The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on grisly videos that spread on social media.
The videos show Kirk, who was influential in rallying young Republican voters, speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a college-age appearance, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed the person then walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.
“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.
Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk's family Thursday in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.
“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”
Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organization is based. Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk's funeral. Details have not been announced.
Kirk was taking questions about gun violence
Kirk was a conservative provocateur who became a powerful political force among young Republicans and was a fixture on college campuses, where he invited sometimes-vehement debate on social issues.
One such provocative exchange played out immediately before the shooting as Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about gun violence.
The debate hosted by Turning Point at the Sorensen Center on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirk's “American Comeback Tour.”
The event generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogue.”
Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”
Attendees barricaded themselves in classrooms
Some attendees who bolted after the gunshot rushed into two classrooms full of students. They used tables to barricade the door and to shield themselves in the corners. Someone grabbed an electric pencil sharpener and wrapped the cord tightly around the door handle, then tied the sharpener to a chair leg.
On campus Thursday, the canopy stamped with the slogan Kirk commonly used at his events — “PROVE ME WRONG” — stood, disheveled.
Kathleen Murphy, a longtime resident who lives near the campus, said she has been staying inside with her door locked.
“With the shooter not being caught yet, it was a worry,” Murphy said.
Meanwhile, the shooting continued to draw swift bipartisan condemnation as Democratic officials joined Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the attack, which unfolded during a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties.
Air Force Two carrying Charlie Kirk's casket arrives in Phoenix
Air Force Two touched down in Phoenix on Thursday carrying Charlie Kirk’s casket back to his home state of Arizona, where he lived with his family.
A funeral is being planned, and Trump said earlier in the day that he’s planning to attend.
“Welcome home, Charlie. You didn’t deserve it. May God bless your family,” an unknown voice said on the air traffic control tower frequency after Air Force Two landed.
Before the plane left Utah, Vice President JD Vance joined a group of uniformed service members on the tarmac in Salt Lake City.
Tyler Bower, who worked with Kirk at Turning Point, posted a video on social media.
Thank you for bringing our hero home @VP @JDVance.
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) September 11, 2025
We are so grateful for you. pic.twitter.com/h5kZgJ2zTd
When the plane arrived, second lady Usha Vance stepped off with Kirk’s widow, Erika. Both women wore black and sunglasses.
Vice President JD Vance was a few steps behind them, wearing a dark suit.
Supporters nearby waved American flags as the casket was removed from the plane in Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family.
Charlie Kirk vigil at ASU planned for Sept. 15
Charlie Kirk’s power as a conservative activist was anchored in having become a fixture on college campuses. Turning Point ASU has scheduled a candlelight vigil at Hayden Lawn on the Tempe campus for Monday.
'Political violence has no place in American democracy' says Hobbs
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said Thursday that elected leaders need to focus on "turning down the rhetoric."
"As elected leaders, we have a responsibility to set the tone," the governor told reporters at a political event Thursday that was scheduled before Wednesday's shooting death of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. "We should all focus on how we are shaping the political discourse."
"Political violence has no place in American democracy," she said. "And we have to stand together in rejecting that."
The governor herself, however, has repeatedly used the terms "extremist" and "dangerous" when referring to Republicans who do not support her agenda. And it's nothing new.
During an interview during her 2022 election campaign, she called out Kari Lake, her GOP foes "dangerous and too extreme."
Last year she railed against "Republican extremists in the House" when they voted against repealing a territorial-era law that had outlawed virtually all abortions.
And during this year's legislative session, she called out what she said were a few "extreme Republican lawmakers'' who were holding up a measure to fund services for Arizonans with disabilities.
"Every elected leader needs to focus on our role in toning down, or even shaping, the political discourse and how we can come together to reject this kind of extremist political violence that we're seeing," Hobbs said Wednesday when asked in the wake of Kirk's shooting if she was part of the problem. "And this is a terrible, terrible reminder of that."
But the governor wouldn't answer the question of whether she will stop using the word "extremist'' when talking about Republicans.
"I'm not pointing fingers right now," Hobbs responded. "This is a very sad time and we need to focus on working together."
Hobbs is certainly not alone in using heated rhetoric.
President Donald Trump, in a video message hours after the shooting, blamed it on the "radial left" despite the fact that an assailant had not been identified, much less a motive.
And Hobbs herself has been the target of such verbiage.
Senate President Warren Petersen has said she is trying "to force unlawful and extreme agendas on our citizens."
And Sen. Jake Hoffman, who has battled and help kill the governor's choices to head state agencies, has spoken of and her "extreme agenda'' and her being a part of the "radical left." He also called Hobbs an "extremist'' in social media posts and decried "extremist Democrats in Arizona" for renting a mobile billboard ahead of the 2024 election pointing out he was one of 11 "fake electors" indicted on charges of fraud and conspiracy in the 2020 election.
"I have no idea what you're talking about,'' Hoffman responded in a text message to a question about his own rhetoric and whether he is part of the problem. Pushed for an answer, he texted, "You're an idiot.''
Petersen did not returned a message seeking comment on Thursday.
Others, including several current Republican legislators, have called Hobbs a "radical leftist."
FBI offers $100,000 reward in fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk
The FBI is directing people to its digital tip line, and offering a reward of up to $100,000 for "information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible" for Kirk's death.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Contact 1-800-CALL-FBI and submit photos and…
— FBI (@FBI) September 11, 2025
Source: Vance will return Charlie Kirk's casket to Arizona in Air Force Two
Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will travel to Utah Thursday to pay their respects to the family of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was killed while hosting an event at Utah Valley University Wednesday.
According to a source familiar with the vice president’s plans, Vance will then fly Kirk’s casket and family back to their home in Arizona aboard Air Force Two.
In a eulogy posted to X, the vice president described Kirk as a “true friend” who Vance consulted before he first ran for the U.S. Senate in Ohio.
A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 11, 2025
Memorial set up outside Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix
Many people were gathered outside the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix i the afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at a memorial set up for CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk.
/ Ross D. Franklin/AP
What it was like to cover Charlie Kirk at the peak of his MAGA triumph
As you’ve been hearing all over the news, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday. There’s a lot to say about who he was, and what his legacy will be — and those are all conversations that will unfold over the coming weeks. Today I want to offer this snapshot of my brief experience with Kirk, a charismatic Arizonan who I covered at what would turn out to be the apex of his influence.
Here at The Show, we’ve been following Kirk and Turning Point USA for a while. Turning Point is one of the most influential organizations in American politics — and one of the most conservative. But they’re also based here in Phoenix.
So last fall, before and after the election, we talked about Turning Point’s ability to merge evangelical religious fervor with right-wing cultural issues.
FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk killing
The FBI released two photos of a person of interest in connection with the shooting as investigators appealed to the public for information. The photos show a person wearing a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt.
We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025
1-800-CALL-FBI
Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc
Charlie Kirk's killer blended in on Utah university campus, and a high-powered rifle is recovered
The sniper who assassinated Charlie Kirk is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing they have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack and are reviewing video footage of the person they believe was responsible.
The shooter appeared to be of college age and blended in on the university campus where Kirk was killed Wednesday, said Beau Mason, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety. It remained unclear how far the shooter has traveled, though law enforcement officials say nearby woods where the rifle was found have been secured.
Even as law enforcement officials revealed new details about an attack they called targeted, much remained unclear nearly 24 hours later, including the sniper's identity, motive and whereabouts. Two people detained Wednesday were released after neither was determined to be connected to the shooting, but by Thursday officials expressed confidence they had tracked the shooter's movements on campus in the run-up to it.
Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was killed in broad daylight while speaking about social issues at a Utah Valley University campus courtyard. The circumstances brought renewed attention to the escalating threat of political violence in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The killing drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.
The attack was captured on grisly videos circulating on social media that show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
Trump said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up Trump's second Republican administration, Vance wrote.
“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”
Kirk was taking questions about gun violence
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political youth organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, at the Sorensen Center courtyard on campus. Immediately before the shooting, he took questions from an audience member about gun violence.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the person asked. Kirk responded, “Too many.”
The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.
Then a shot rang out.
The shooter, who Gov. Spencer Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away.
Madison Lattin was watching a few dozen feet from Kirk’s left when she heard the bullet hit him.
“Blood is falling and dripping down, and you're just like so scared, not just for him but your own safety," she said.
She saw people drop to the ground in an eerie silence pierced immediately by cries. She and others ran. Some fell and were trampled in the stampede.
When Lattin later learned that Kirk had died, she wept, she said, describing him as a role model who had showed her how to fight for the truth.
Trump calls Kirk a ‘martyr for truth’
About 3,000 people were in attendance, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety. The university police department had six officers working the event, along with Kirk's own security detail, authorities said.
Trump announced Kirk's death on social media and praised the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of Turning Point as “Great, and even Legendary.” Later, he released a video in which he called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom."
Utah Valley University said the campus was evacuated after the shooting and will be closed until Monday.
Meanwhile, armed officers walked around the neighborhood bordering the campus, knocking on doors and asking for any information residents might have on the shooting. Helicopters buzzed overhead.
Wednesday's event, billed as the first stop on Kirk's “The American Comeback Tour,” had generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”
Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”
Condemnation from across the political spectrum
The shooting drew swift bipartisan condemnation as Democratic officials joined Trump, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation, and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the violence.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends,” said Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman who was wounded in a 2011 shooting in her Arizona district.
In a joint statement, the Young Democrats of Connecticut and the Connecticut Young Republicans called the shooting “unacceptable.”
“There is no place in our country for such acts regardless of political disagreements,” they said.
The shooting appeared poised to become part of a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade in June to demand Hamas release hostages and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally last year.
Kirk confronted liberals
Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.
But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.
Despite early misgivings, Turning Point enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the general election campaign.
Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.
What we know about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Authorities are still looking for the person who fatally shot right-wing activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk on a college campus on Wednesday.
Kirk, the 31-year-old CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on the first stop of his American Comeback Tour. President Trump announced his death and ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through Sunday in mourning.
Charlie Kirk mourner at Phoenix Turning Point campus blames media, says it's 'driving a wedge'
One man who showed up to the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon said he came to be with people who were going to miss Charlie Kirk. He had a white baseball cap with the number 47 on the front.
"I caught this hat from Charlie Kirk. His DNA's on the brim of it, just like mine," he said, adding he got it at a TPUSA rally in May when Congressman Andy Biggs announced his gubernatorial run.
When a reporter asked for his name, the man said, "No sir, you're not gonna get me doxed. Nobody trusts you guys."
He blamed the media for Kirk's death, for "driving a wedge smooth between Americans. It's blue versus red."
In Kirk, he saw someone who had a "free voice" in speaking out against illegal immigration, drugs and crime.
"I keep Narcan in my medicine cabinet for the junkies that OD on my streets," he said. "Look what we’ve got here. This guy, Charlie Kirk, he stood for everything that wasn’t that."
Police officers guarding Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix
Armed Phoenix police officers are now guarding the entrance to the Turning Point USA campus. Only mourners have been allowed onto the property to pay their respects.
People have been placing flowers and other items at the entrance of a two-story building with a sign that says Burke Family Victory Center.
The American and Arizona flags flying outside the facility have been lowered to half staff. It appears a project to install fencing is underway. Posts up to 8 feet high line the perimeter, with yellow caution tape strung between them.
Turning Point USA releases statement confirming Kirk’s death
Turning Point USA releases the following statement on its social media accounts Wednesday afternoon:
It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot that took place during Turning Point USA’s “The American Comeback Tour” campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
May be be received into the merciful arms of our loving Savior, who suffered and died for Charlie.
We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers.
We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity at this time.
President Donald Trump first broke the the news of Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social. Trump later ordered American flags be flown at half-staff through Sept. 14 in Kirk’s honor.
Arizona, national politicians react to Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump said.
President Donald Trump, the Arizona Republican Party and former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords were among politicians who reacted to the shooting Wednesday.
Kirk's fatal shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the U.S.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump said.
The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum.
Turning Point USA’s Phoenix campus quiet following Charlie Kirk shooting
Shortly after news of the shooting broke Wednesday, KJZZ’s Matthew Casey visited Turning Point USA headquarters in south Phoenix, home of the conservative youth organization Kirk co-founded.
It was quiet outside the campus following the announcement of Kirk’s death, outside of the steady flow of arriving news reporters.
Moments after, a young man walked up to the property’s entrance. He dropped to one knee, took off his hat and bowed his head. Then he got up and walked away.
MATTHEW CASEY: I'm standing outside, across the street from Turning Point USA campus.
There's a couple of guys who have been monitoring who's coming in and off the campus.
They're using a van to block the entrance way right now.
The scene is quiet, aside from a little bit of traffic and the humming of news vehicles.
An American flag and an Arizona flag sit here at the entrance to the property.