The 31-year-old was addressing students as part of his nationwide 'American Comeback Tour' when the incident occurred.
The shooting happened around 12:20 p.m. local time during Kirk's 'Prove Me Wrong' event. Witnesses said he had just finished taking questions from the audience when a single gunshot rang out.
'I heard a loud crack, and then I saw Charlie grab his neck and collapse,' said Raydon Dechene, who was standing near the stage. 'There was blood. Everyone started screaming and running.'
Police believe the shot was fired from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away, likely from the Losee Center, a building on the university campus. Authorities immediately evacuated the area and secured the surroundings.
Two people were briefly detained for questioning but were later released. As of Wednesday evening, no suspect had been arrested, and a manhunt was ongoing. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses, though no motive has been identified.
News of Kirk's death sparked reactions across the political spectrum. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff, describing Kirk as 'a fighter who loved America and gave his life speaking out for what he believed in.' Former President Barack Obama condemned the attack as 'despicable violence' and urged Americans to reject political hatred.
Kirk, who became a political organiser in his early twenties, founded Turning Point USA in 2012. The organisation grew into one of the most influential conservative youth movements in the United States, focusing on mobilising students around right-leaning political causes.
The tragic death of Charlie Kirk comes amid heightened public concern over violent attacks in the United States.
Just weeks earlier, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack aboard a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her death has sparked debates over urban safety, mental health care, and the protection of vulnerable communities, highlighting ongoing worries about violence nationwide.
Rania Umutoni
