Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of conservative youth group Turning Point USA, died on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, at a Utah hospital. He was 31.
Charlie Kirk dies: What’s the cause of death?
Kirk was shot in the neck during a campus event at Utah Valley University and later succumbed to his injuries. Police confirmed that a suspect was arrested at the scene.
Videos verified by the Associated Press show Kirk speaking under a tent when a gunshot rang out. He immediately grabbed his neck as blood poured out, and panicked spectators screamed and ran.
According to law enforcement officials, Kirk died from a single gunshot wound to the neck. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but could not be saved. The motive for the attack has not yet been established.
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was in the crowd, said:
“It seemed like it was a close shot… Utah is one of the safest places on the planet, and so we just don’t have these types of things.”
Political and public reaction
The killing sparked condemnation from across the political spectrum.
US President Donald Trump said:
“Political violence has no place in this country. We must condemn this horrifying attack. My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk and his family.”
Former President Barack Obama wrote:
“This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Kirk a “relentless crusader for free speech” and said he was “already in paradise with the angels.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said:
“Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charles James Kirk was born on 14 October 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
He grew up in Prospect Heights, where his mother worked as a counselor and his father as an architect. A member of the Boy Scouts of America, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Kirk became politically active in high school, volunteering for Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk’s campaign.
At 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with activist Bill Montgomery.
Backed by conservative donors such as Foster Friess, TPUSA grew into a national movement promoting low taxes, limited government, and conservative values on U.S. campuses.
Kirk expanded his activism beyond Turning Point USA. He led Turning Point Action, Turning Point Faith, and Turning Point Academy, while also hosting The Charlie Kirk Show, a conservative talk radio program.
He became a key ally of Donald Trump, campaigning alongside Trump’s eldest son and promoting pro-Trump positions on television and social media. He also gained national attention for opposing critical race theory, climate change policy, and COVID-19 restrictions.
Kirk was an evangelical Christian. In 2021, he married Erika Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona USA and podcaster. The couple had two children: a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.
