Conservative Leader Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah Campus Appearance

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, is dead after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University Wednesday.

FOX News reported that Kirk died after he was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to a law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press.

Kirk was shot as he spoke to a large crowd.

Utah Valley University spokesperson Ellen Treanor said the shooting happened at about 12:20 p.m.

The suspect is not in custody.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Treanor said, "A suspect was in custody initially, but to the best of my knowledge, that individual has been released. Our campus police are currently investigating in conjunction with the Orem police."

Charlie Kirk was keynote speaker at the Chelan County Lincoln Day Dinner in Wenatchee, two years ago.  The Chelan County GOP Chair will join Dave Bernstein on the KPQ Agenda program Thursday at 1pm with further reaction and to describe Kirk's Wenatchee appearance in 2023.

President Trump confirmed Kirk's death in a post on Truth Social.

"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," Trump wrote. "Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"  --President Donald Trump on Truth Social

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has denounced Kirk's murder

"Violence is never the answer. There is no place in our democracy for political violence, and I condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk in the strongest terms. My prayers are with his family."  -- WA Gov. Bob Ferguson

Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the death of Charlie Kirk. 

“I was deeply saddened to hear Charlie Kirk has died from this despicable act of violence. As we pray for him, his wife, and two young children, we must also recognize the unacceptable pattern of political violence we have witnessed in recent years. Political speech is free speech, and debate between ideologies is one of our core principles that has sustained this country for almost 250 years. It must be cherished and protected.” Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-4)

Washington State Republican Leader Sen. John Braun had the following statement

"The killing today of young father, husband, and political leader Charlie Kirk is a reprehensible act of pure evil. In America, we cannot shoot or physically attack people we politically disagree with.

Not Charlie Kirk. Not Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Not Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Not Paul Pelosi. Not Rep. Steve Scalise. Not Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Not President Trump.

We are Americans before we are Democrats, Republicans, or Independents.  We must see the inherent dignity in our fellow Americans, especially when we disagree with them. We might not resolve our differences, but we can work together to better understand each other."

--Sen. John Braun

This is a developing story