Charlie Kirk’s final words included a debate on the topic of gun violence just seconds before he was fatally shot.
Kirk was speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, as part of his American Comeback Tour. According to a video shared via CNN, Kirk was debating a student about gun violence moments before he was shot.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” a member of the audience asked Kirk.
Kirk responded, “Too many.”
The debater explained that five transgender individuals initiated mass shootings in the United States over the past decade. The person then asked Kirk if he knew how many total mass shooters there have been in the last 10 years.
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.
Seconds later, Kirk was seemingly shot in the neck. According to CNN, the shot was taken from nearly 200 yards away.
Later that day, it was confirmed that Kirk died after being in critical condition. He was 31.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven,” read a statement from Turning Point, a politically conservative organization Kirk founded when he was 18 years old.
Kirk is survived by his family, which includes his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox initially confirmed that a person of interest was in custody during a press conference and referred to the tragic event as a “political assassination.”
“We have a person of interest in custody that is being interviewed right now,” Cox said.
FBI Director Kash Patel later shared via X that the person was released following an interrogation.
“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Patel wrote. “Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”
Kirk was best known as a controversial conservative media personality. In addition to his work with Turning Point, Kirk was the host of his podcast “The Charlie Kirk Show.” Kirk was one of the voices backing President Donald Trump during the 2016, 2020 and 2024 election. The president paid his respects to the late online personality on Wednesday.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote in a statement. “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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