UTAH—Charlie Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative political commentator, at approximately 12:20 p.m., Wednesday, September 10, was shot at Utah Valley University (UVU) during the American Comeback Tour, a Turning Point USA event. The shooting occurred at an outdoor rally with a large audience. Kirk was reportedly struck in the neck and airlifted to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was later pronounced dead.
This shooting is still an active investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are co-leading this incident in unison with the Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office, and the local police departments.
Initially a George Zinn was taken in as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police. A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement. There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals, according to law enforcement. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter.
Reports indicate the shooting occurred from approximately 200 yards away with a rifle. The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard. The FBI believes the shooting to be a targeted attack.
According to an ATF email disclosed by Steven Crowder, surveillance video shows the suspect, jumping off the rooftop of the building and fleeing the area on foot. ATF and other law-enforcement located an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus.
The location of the firearm appears to match the suspects route of travel. The spent cartridge was still chambered in addition to three unspent rounds at the top fed magazine. All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology, according to the ATF email.
The firearm and ammunition have been taken by the FBI for DNA analysis and fingerprint impressions. Upon completion of forensics, the firearm will be disassembled for additional importer information.
To secure the event, UVU PD had six officers working the event. These security measures were in addition to Charlie Kirk’s security detail, who travels with him. Approximately 3,000 people attended. The location of the event was held in the university quad, an outdoor bowl courtyard on campus for events.
It is unknown if this is politically motivated attack. However, rhetoric of violence against conservatives has been ever increasing since the inauguration of President Donald J Trump this year.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted to X that he is “monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”
Kirk is founder and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting conservative values among high school and college students. Born on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Kirk grew up in a suburban Chicago family and attended Wheeling High School, where he became interested in politics after volunteering for a Republican congressional campaign. He skipped college to launch TPUSA in 2012 at age 18, initially from his parents’ garage, with early support from conservative donor Foster Friess.
Kirk has authored several books, including “Campus Battlefield” (2018) and “The MAGA Doctrine” (2020), and co-hosts the podcast “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which reaches millions weekly. A vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, he played a key role in youth mobilization during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections.
Kirk has 5.35 million followers on X, 5.63 million on Instagram, 4.26 million on Facebook, 3.71 million on YouTube, and 7.3 million on TikTok of mainly young men.
Kirk resides in Arizona and is survived by his wife, Erika and their two kids.
What Prominent Officials Are Saying
Recent hostile rhetoric against conservatives
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has continued to use strong language against conservative policies, particularly in debates over immigration and economic reforms. In a recent interview, she described conservative opposition as “a direct threat to the fabric of our society.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, in a rally earlier this year, criticized conservative economic policies and stated, “We cannot sit idly by while they dismantle everything we’ve fought for. We must be prepared to defend our values at all costs.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren, during a town hall meeting, denounced conservative tax policies and said, “The time for polite disagreement is over. We need to take decisive action to protect our future.”
Article Updated:
- 6:53 a.m., September 11, 2025.
- 2:47 p.m., September 10, 2025.
- 2:10 p.m., September 10, 2025.
Author: Mario Lotmore
2 Responses
Why are you naming people who were questioned and released? Great way to get innocent people targeted.
great