Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/The Salt Lake Tribune
Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Police, US News, Charlie Kirk
Callum Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Police, US News, Charlie Kirk
Here's everything we know after Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a debating event in Utah on Wednesday (September 10).
Political influencer Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, with Donald Trump confirming he had passed away a few hours later.
On Truth Social, the president said: "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!"
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Trump ordered flags to be flown at half mast across the US in light of Kirk's death.
"In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M," the president added on social media.
A trusted ally of President Trump, Kirk was one of the most well-known conservative activists in the US.
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He was a regular visitor to the White House and was even a guest at Trump's presidential inauguration back in January.
At just the age of 18, Kirk co-founded the political group Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a group set up to promote conservative values in high school, colleges and universities.
While Kirk had many critics who saw him as a divisive figure, he also had many fans across the world who praised him for championing free speech.
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA when he was assassinated. Around 3,000 people were in the crowd.
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The activist was just 20 minutes into his presentation when shots were fired.
Moments before, one of the audience members during the rally stepped up to a microphone to debate him on the topic of mass shootings.
They asked: "Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?"
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Kirk replied ‘too many’ - and the shot was fired shortly after.
The influencer was seated under a white gazebo in Utah for the outdoor debate when he was shot.
Horrific videos taken at the scene, plus eyewitnesses recalled how Kirk could be seen recoiling in his chair before the crowd started running.
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Emma Pitts, a reporter from Deseret News, who was in attendance at the debate in Utah, told the BBC: "We all dropped to the ground, and I want to say we sat like that for about 30 to 45 seconds, and then everyone around us got up and started running."
Kirk was rushed to hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Two people had been taken in for questioning following the shooting, but have since been released as police confirm they have 'no current ties' to the shooting.
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"This shooting is still an active investigation," said the Department of Public Safety in a recent update.
The suspect remains at large and a manhunt is underway.
The shooter is believed to have fired shots from the roof of UVU's Losee Center, which is located near the courtyard where Kirk was positioned.