Christian Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot Dead in Utah Campus Event

MANILA, Philippines—American Christian conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a Utah university event, 10 September 2025.

Kirk, founder of the conservative campus activist organisation Turning Point USA is an outspoken evangelical Christian promoting conservative values in various campuses across the USA.

According to a report by the Catholic News Agency,CNA, the 31 year old Kirk was fatally shot in the neck in an apparent assassination while taking questions from audience members during a stop at the Utah Valley University.

The shooting reportedly happened when Kirk was answering a student's question about transgenderism and gun violence shortly after the event began.

Kirk often debated students on campus and strongly defended free speech at colleges. He was also an outspoken critic of discrimination against Christians and gender ideology.

In 2012, Kirk founded Turning Point USA when he was just 18 years old to promote free speech and conservative values on college campuses.

Kirk has been outspoken about his Christian faith on social media, in interviews and campus tours.

He even expressed his optimism about a "revival in the Christian church" in a post on X last week.

Condolences flowed at the passing of Kirk with US Vice President JD Vance posting on X that Kirk's campus events "are one of the few places with open and honest dialogue between left and right." He also noted that Kirk would answer any question and talk to everyone, followed by another post of a traditional Catholic prayer for the dead, "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord."

The US Congress offered a moment of silence for Kirk.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, ordered all American flags in the country to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. on Sunday, 14 September, to honour Kirk's legacy, saying he was "a truly Great American Patriot." Kirk was a strong supporter of Trump.

CNA report said that as of early Wednesday evening, Kirk's shooter has not yet been confirmed captured and that the motive for the killing is not yet known.

Cover image: Charlie Kirk Facebook