Charlie Kirk’s Final Words Before His Assassination at Utah University Event
A Shocking Moment on Campus
The nation is reeling after Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most recognizable figures in conservative politics, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) on September 10.
Kirk, who had built his career as a firebrand political commentator and youth activist, was addressing a packed audience of students when tragedy struck. Footage from the event shows Kirk deep in discussion when a gunshot echoed through the courtyard. He collapsed in his chair as chaos erupted among stunned onlookers.
Confirmation of His Death
Former President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a message posted on Truth Social, even as early reports struggled to clarify his condition. Trump’s tribute captured both the scale of Kirk’s influence and the personal sense of loss felt within conservative circles.
“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!”
The statement set the tone for an outpouring of grief across political lines, as colleagues, supporters, and rivals alike grappled with the sudden loss of a figure who had shaped a generation of young conservatives.
The Debate That Led to His Final Words
Just before the fatal shot was fired, Kirk was engaged in a debate with a student audience member on the polarizing subject of gun violence and mass shootings.
The student stepped up to a microphone and asked:
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?”
The question referenced the highly publicized Catholic Church shooting in Minneapolis on August 27, in which the suspect was identified as transgender.
Kirk replied firmly:
“Too many.”
His response prompted applause and cheers from some in the audience.
The student then followed up:
“That number is five. But how many mass shooters have there been in America over the last 10 years?”
Kirk’s last recorded words came as he answered:
“Counting or not counting gang violence?”
It was in the very next moment, as the crowd waited for him to continue, that the fatal shot rang out. Kirk was struck in the neck, slumping backward in his chair as students and staff screamed and scrambled for safety.
Panic and Chaos
Eyewitnesses described the courtyard descending into pandemonium. Some dropped to the ground; others sprinted for cover. Security personnel rushed toward Kirk as blood was visible on his shirt.
One attendee told reporters:
“It happened so fast. He was mid-sentence, and then the sound—everyone knew it was a gunshot. The whole place just collapsed into panic.”
Emergency services transported Kirk to a nearby hospital, but despite immediate treatment, he did not survive his injuries.
The Investigation
Authorities initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody, though they did not immediately confirm whether that individual was believed to be the shooter. Later, the FBI clarified that the person detained had been questioned and released.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement:
“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”
A second person was also briefly arrested but later released after officials determined there were “no current ties” to the shooting.
Law enforcement sources now believe the attack was carried out by a gunman positioned on the roof of the Losee Center building, approximately 200 feet away from the stage where Kirk sat. The shooter is believed to have specifically targeted the conservative activist.
Both the Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI continue to investigate the case as a targeted political assassination, though no definitive motive or suspect has been publicly identified.
Reaction from Leaders
Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the shooting in a statement, calling it a direct attack on democracy itself.
“This was a political assassination, and it has no place in our state or in this nation. We are praying for Charlie’s wife, daughter, and son. We will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy.”
President Trump later expanded on his initial statement in a video message posted to Truth Social, saying he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
The message was echoed by other conservative leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, who urged Americans to pray for Kirk’s family.
A Family in Mourning
Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their two young children: a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son.
Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA and founder of the BIBLEin365 ministry, has not spoken publicly since the shooting. However, in the hours before her husband’s death, she had posted a haunting verse from Psalm 46:1:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
That message has since been shared widely by grieving supporters who see it as both prophetic and comforting in light of the tragedy.
The Legacy of Charlie Kirk
Love him or loathe him, Kirk was undeniably a force in American politics. As the co-founder of Turning Point USA, he spent more than a decade building one of the largest youth-focused conservative organizations in the country. His ability to mobilize and influence college students gave him a platform few others in his space enjoyed.
Supporters hailed him as a champion of free speech and a fearless critic of progressive orthodoxy. Detractors described him as polarizing and confrontational. But even critics acknowledge that Kirk had a gift for drawing attention and sparking debate, particularly on hot-button cultural issues.
In his final moments, that talent was on full display—sparring with a student on gun violence and shaping the narrative of a national conversation.
Conclusion: The Last Video
The investigation into Kirk’s assassination remains ongoing, with authorities pledging to pursue every lead in the hunt for the gunman.
For his supporters, however, Kirk’s final exchange on stage will remain etched in memory. His words—“Counting or not counting gang violence?”—were followed instantly by the sound of the gunshot that ended his life.
It was the last thing his audience heard, and it now serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of public life in an age of political division.
The last video of Charlie Kirk speaking at the Utah debate event, moments before he was fatally shot, is available at the end of this article.
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