By Mark Ellis —
In a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken many, conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10, 2025, during a public Q&A session at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The 31-year-old leader, renowned for his fervent defense of biblical values and American conservatism, was fatally shot in the throat moments after addressing a question about “trans shooters.”
Kirk’s unwavering Christian testimony continues to inspire believers as they grieve. Considering his beautiful young family, the only place of solace is prayer and Scripture:
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18)
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety and eyewitness reports, the attack occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. during a Turning Point USA event, part of Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour.”
The assailant, described as a college-age male dressed in dark clothing, fired a single shot from a rooftop using a high-powered, bolt-action rifle, which was later recovered in a nearby wooded area. The shooter remains at large, with the FBI offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to their identification and arrest, and releasing images of a person of interest, according to Fox News.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the act a “political assassination,” stating, “We will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable,” news services reported.
Charlie Kirk’s faith journey began in Wheaton, Illinois, where he attended Wheaton Academy, a Christian school. Raised in a nominally Christian home, Kirk shared in a 2020 CBN News interview, “I grew up going to church, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I truly surrendered my life to Christ. Reading the Bible, especially Romans 1, convicted me of God’s sovereignty.”
This encounter transformed him, leading to the founding of Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18, with a mission to engage young people with conservative Christian values.
Kirk’s testimony was one of bold engagement with culture. “Jesus didn’t retreat from the world; He engaged it,” he declared in a 2023 podcast with Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills (Calvary Chapel Podcast, June 15, 2023).
Through Turning Point Faith, he mobilized Christians to vote biblically, often crediting his wife, Erika, and mentors like Pastor Rob McCoy for anchoring his faith. His events, like the one in Orem, featured his signature “prove me wrong” table, where he fearlessly debated challengers, reflecting his belief in truth as a tool for persuasion, ABC news reported.
The Unusual Coincidence: A Question on Trans Shooters
The timing of Kirk’s death carries a chilling irony. Moments before the shot, an audience member asked about transgender individuals involved in mass shootings. Kirk referenced cases like the 2023 Nashville Covenant School shooting by Audrey Hale, a transgender woman who killed six, including three children.
He also noted the 2019 STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting by a transgender teen and the 2023 Iowa school shooting by a gender-fluid individual.
“We must address the mental health crisis and spiritual void fueling these tragedies,” Kirk said, seconds before collapsing, The Guardian reported.
While initial reports suggested ammunition engraved with transgender and antifascist slogans, authorities later clarified this was unverified (New York Magazine, September 11, 2025;).
The shooter’s motive remains unknown, but the context of Kirk’s remarks has fueled speculation, with some online voices misidentifying suspects, the BBC reported.
Utah’s Governor Cox urged restraint, emphasizing, “We need every person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be.”
Kirk’s assassination has drawn widespread grief and bipartisan condemnation. Franklin Graham called him “a warrior for Christ, unapologetically defending biblical truth.”
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship said, “His passion for young people to know Jesus was infectious.”
