Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The shooting occurred while Kirk was participating in a live student debate titled “Prove Me Wrong.”
According to initial reports, the fatal shot came from an estimated distance of 100 to 200 yards away, with the shooter believed to have fired from the vicinity of the university’s Losee Center. Witnesses and university officials indicated that the shot may have come from either the rooftop or an open window of the building, though this has not been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for the university said Kirk was hit by a shot fired from the roof of the school’s Losee Center, a campus building about 91-183 metres (100-200 yards) from the event area.
Authorities have yet to identify or apprehend the gunman. Two individuals who were initially detained for questioning have since been released. The investigation remains ongoing, with officials pursuing leads and not ruling out the possibility of a targeted assassination by a hired killer.
Utah Police Department said that two people had been considered suspects, but they were released after officials found they had no links to the shooting.
Beau Mason, the head of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said a suspect was described as being dressed in all-dark clothing. He said one shot was fired in the fatal attack.
Six officers were working the event, and there were more than 3,000 people in attendance, according to Jeff Long, chief of the Utah Valley University police department. Kirk also had a private security team with him.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” Utah Governor Cox said. “I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”
The shooting has sparked a wave of political reaction across the country. Both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden issued statements condemning the attack and offering condolences. As of now, the identity and motive of the shooter remain unknown.
