Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot Utah Campus Tour Start

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck during the kickoff of his "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University. The shooting occurred at a public event where Kirk was engaging with students, marking the first stop of a planned 15-date tour across nine states. Kirk was scheduled for future appearances, including at Colorado State University and a December conference in Phoenix. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on Truth Social, calling Kirk "great" and "legendary" and extending sympathies to Kirk's family. Supporters like Texas A&M student Ramsey Dominy and McLennan County Republican Chair Chris DeCluit mourned Kirk's death, emphasizing his message of unity and calling for justice, with some attributing the attack to political motivations. Authorities detained a person of interest but later clarified that individual was not the suspect, and the shooter remains at large.