'Legendary' Charlie Kirk Has Died, after Being Assassinated on Utah Campus; Pray for His Wife and Children
"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!" -President Donald Trump
[CBN News] Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and reportedly killed on Wednesday while speaking to a large crowd at an event at Utah Valley University. (Screengrab image: via Fox News)
President Trump posted on Truth Social moments ago, "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!"
Kirk was reported to be in critical condition after the shooting. Video from the event documented the shooting as the gunshot rang out, and Kirk fell to the side after heavy bleeding was immediately visible from a wound near the left side of his neck.
Earlier, officials said a suspect was in custody, but now there are reports that that individual is not believed to be the shooter.
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz was at the event. The Republican was visibly shaken as he relayed the account to Fox News on air, saying that he heard the shot and saw Kirk fall over.
President Trump had called for prayers for Kirk, writing on his Truth Social site, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Prayer posts poured in from other top American leaders, from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Vice President JD Vance, who posted, "Dear God, protect Charlie in his darkest hour."
Multiple leaders on the left weighed in, too, condemning the violence. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat whose house was set on fire in an act of antisemitic violence, said, “We must speak with moral clarity. The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.”
DEVELOPING...
As a young entrepreneur, Kirk founded Turning Point in 2012. As a high school senior, he found himself disappointed when he asked national conservative leaders about resources for youth outreach.
Turning Point's strategy centers on conversations with college students, many of whom have never been exposed to the intellectual rigor behind conservative principles. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
