Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot and killed on Wednesday while addressing students at Utah Valley University. He was 31.

The shooting happened during a campus event under a tent bearing the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” Kirk was answering questions from the audience when a gunman opened fire.

Eyewitnesses say Kirk was struck in the neck, collapsed on stage, and bled heavily as panic spread. Students screamed and fled the courtyard as security rushed to the scene.

Videos circulating online show the moment chaos broke out.

Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on his Truth Social account, describing him as “Great, and even Legendary,” and praised his influence on young Americans.

Law enforcement officials have not identified the shooter, who remains at large. A man detained earlier on campus has since been released after questioning. Authorities are treating the killing as a targeted political assassination.

The event had already stirred controversy, with nearly 1,000 students petitioning for its cancellation. University officials, however, defended Kirk’s right to speak under the First Amendment.

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who witnessed the attack, said he saw Kirk slump backward after what appeared to be a close-range shot, lamenting the “light police presence” at the venue.

Kirk’s killing has sparked outrage across political divides, with widespread condemnation of the violence and renewed debates about free speech and gun safety in America.