Witnesses were nearby when Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah Valley University event, and two men have since been mistakenly arrested as the gunman remains unidentified.Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck shortly after 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries. His organization, Turning Point USA, confirmed his death in a message to supporters.

Police believe a single shot was fired from a rooftop about 200 yards away. The weapon has not been recovered.The investigation has been complicated by two wrongful arrests: one man falsely confessed, while another was misidentified from security footage. Both have been released, and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the search for the shooter is ongoing.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox called Kirk’s death a “political assassination,” noting that the state still permits capital punishment.The shooting caused chaos on campus as students fled and hid. Seventeen-year-old Grace Dishman described barricading herself in a bathroom, while her brother Beck initially thought the shot was fireworks.

Some attendees criticized the event’s lack of security, citing no bag checks or metal detectors in the busy area.Footage shows Kirk collapsing after being asked a question about transgender mass shooters. Another video appears to show someone moving on a rooftop shortly after the shot.Kirk was known for his conservative activism and for leading Turning Point USA to mobilize young Republican voters. As of Thursday, September 11, the shooter remains at large in the Salt Lake City area.