In what Utah’s governor called a political assassination, a sniper shot and killed influential conservative Charlie Kirk on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as he engaged students in a question and answer-style debate.
The killer remains at large, but Gov. Spencer Cox vowed that federal and state law enforcement officials would capture the shooter, even as President Donald Trump and other world leaders condemned the attack and the angry divides plaguing the country.
As the world awakens Thursday to the 24th anniversary of 9/11, another national tragedy has brought both condemnation and reflection to America with the death of Kirk, 31, who co-founded Turning Point USA and who generated 15 billion social media views in 2024 alone.
“To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah,” Trump said. “Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror.”
Cox vowed that federal and state law enforcement officials would hunt down the killer.
“The investigation is ongoing but I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you,” he said. “We will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law. And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”