Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist, suffered from a fatal gunshot fired to his neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
His assassination occurred while he was presenting and debating his ideas regarding the power of free speech at Utah Valley University, in Orem, and kicking off The American Comeback Tour. In this tour, audience members were invited to debate activists in public forums. The tour was intended to reach other colleges including Colorado State University and University of Minnesota. During this presentation, a single, fatal shot was fired. Authorities believe the shooter was aiming from Losee Center, a building located on campus, approximately 200 yards from where Kirk was positioned at the time. Messages engraved on unfired bullets left with the gun that officials believe were used by the shooter “suggest a familiarity with antifascist symbolism and the insider slang of video games and online culture that pervade the lives of young Americans,” according to The New York Times. Other engravings “appear more politically straightforward,” according to The New York Times. Utah Governor Spencer Cox described Kirk’s killing as “a political assassination” in a statement to CNN reporters.
Kirk was born on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He married Erika Lane Frantzve in May of 2021 and they have two young children together. He attended Wheeling High School and later went onto Harper College, eventually dropping out to pursue political activism. Kirk is most well-known for co-founding Turning Point USA, an organization that advocates for conservative political presence on high school and college campuses. He would debate with students on topics such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and then post these videos online. He additionally hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, which addressed news, politics, and culture from a nonapologetic conservative perspective. Kirk had a close relationship with President Donald Trump, and NBC News describes him as an “influential voice in the Trump administration.”
At 4:40 pm, on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced that Kirk was dead, writing “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” Trump also announced that all American flags will be flown at half mass until Sunday, September 14, at 6 p.m. in honor of Kirk.
During a press conference on Friday morning, Cox said that authorities identified and arrested a new suspect: 22-year-old Utah resident Taylor Robinson. According to NBC News the suspect was found “after analyzing surveillance footage, interviewing Robinson’s family members and reviewing online messages between Robinson and his roommate.” The FBI is continuing to investigate the crime and Robinson will remain in custody without bail until further notice.
Stay-tuned for a more in-depth coverage of Kirk’s death in The Polygon’s September/October issue.
