Authorities reveal Kirk was shot by a sniper on a college campus, as the Republican Party of Florida and President Trump issue strong statements.
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been confirmed by Utah law enforcement officials, who revealed at a press conference on Wednesday that Kirk was shot and killed by a single sniper bullet at a Utah Valley University event.
“This is a political assassination,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “When someone takes the life of a person because of their ideas or their ideals, then that very constitutional foundation is threatened.”
Authorities stated that Kirk was shot around 12:20 p.m. Mountain Standard Time while speaking at an outdoor campus event hosted by a student group. He was struck by a single bullet believed to have been fired from a nearby rooftop. He was transported to a local hospital by private vehicle and later passed away.
READ :President Trump Orders Flags Lowered To Half-Staff In Memory Of Charlie Kirk
While FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that a suspect was in custody, authorities in Utah said a person of interest was being interviewed but did not confirm they were the shooter.
They also noted that an initial suspect, George Zinn, was released after it was determined he was not the shooter, though he was later booked for obstruction of justice.
The Utah Department of Public Safety will be co-leading the investigation with the FBI.
“We are following all the leads and all the evidence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bowles. The university’s police chief, Chief Long, called the event “a police chief’s nightmare,” and stated that despite having officers in the crowd and working with Kirk’s security team, the “tragic incident” still happened.
The incident drew immediate and sharp reactions from political leaders. The Republican Party of Florida released a statement calling it a “tragic day in American history” and laying blame on the “Left’s reckless rhetoric.”
READ: Florida GOP Blames ‘Left’s Reckless Rhetoric’ For Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
“From the mainstream media to radical activists, the climate they’ve created has led to tragedy,” said Chairman Evan Power in the statement. “America must wake up.”
In Washington, President Donald J. Trump issued a presidential proclamation ordering all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Kirk until sunset on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
The order, which applies to all federal buildings, military posts, and U.S. facilities both domestically and abroad, was issued as a “mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk.”
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