Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at approximately 12:20 p.m. local time (11:20 p.m. Hanoi time) on 10/9. Kirk was addressing a large crowd on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when shots rang out. He clutched his neck and fell from his seat.

"The great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk has passed away. Nobody understood or connected with the young people of our country like Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me," US President Donald Trump posted on social media, offering condolences to Kirk’s family. He ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across the US until 6 p.m. on 14/9 in Kirk's memory.

Authorities believe the suspect likely fired from a rooftop. An estimated 3,000 people were attending the event at Utah Valley University. A university spokesperson confirmed the shooter remains at large.

"This is a dark day for our state, a sorrowful day for the nation," Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated at a press conference later that day, adding that a person of interest is being questioned. "I want to be clear, this was a politically motivated assassination."

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk speaking at the University of Arizona, Tucson in October 2024. Photo: AFP

Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz told Fox News that Kirk was shot during a question-and-answer session with the audience.

"The first question was about religion. Kirk spoke for 15-20 minutes. The second question, rather remarkably, was about transgender shooters, mass shootings, and then the shots rang out," Chaffetz said. "Kirk went down immediately. People were screaming and running."

Sophie Anderson, 45, was standing about 100 meters from the stage. She knew it was a gunshot the moment she heard it. "He was shot in the neck; there was a lot of blood," Anderson described.

Law enforcement officials cordon off the area where Charlie Kirk was shot. Photo: AP

Kirk had approximately 5.3 million followers on X and hosted a popular radio program, The Charlie Kirk Show. He also recently co-hosted Fox & Friends on Fox News.

Kirk and Turning Point USA, the largest conservative youth organization in the US, which he founded, held considerable sway in American politics. Kirk helped garner support for Trump among young voters, a key factor in the Republican president’s return to the White House.

Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, AFP)