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Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot at an event at a public university in Utah on Wednesday.
The close ally of US President Donald Trump was speaking on Wednesday with students at Utah Valley University, a public university in Orem, when he was shot. His condition was not yet known.
The university issued a brief statement confirming Kirk had been shot and that an unnamed suspect was in custody.
Trump posted to his Truth Social platform: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Kirk is the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a grassroots organisation that promotes conservative politics at secondary schools and universities. The group rallied support for Trump and the Republican party in recent years, especially among younger voters.
Minutes before the shooting, Kirk posted pictures and videos from the event to social media.
“WE. ARE. SO. BACK,” Kirk wrote on X. “Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”
FBI director Kash Patel said the agency was “closely monitoring” events at the university, and said agents would be “on the scene quickly”.
US attorney-general Pam Bondi said FBI and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were “on the scene”. Deputy attorney-general Todd Blanche said the justice department was “actively investigating this senseless act of violence”.
Vice-president JD Vance posted to X: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Mike Lee, the Republican senator from Utah, said in a post on X: “I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”
Additional reporting by Stefania Palma
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