Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Hours before his death, he shared a cryptic Instagram post featuring a surveillance image of a frightened woman on a subway, believed to reference the recent murder of Iryna Zarutska. Kirk ominously captioned it, “America will never be the same.”

In his final Instagram Stories, Kirk discussed Zarutska’s murder and later addressed an audience about national identity. His sudden death shocked followers, with many reacting emotionally to his last posts.

During the event, a single, precise gunshot struck Kirk. Security immediately evacuated him, but he later died at the hospital. Initially, a suspect was detained and released, leaving the FBI with an active investigation. Experts believe the shooter was highly skilled, leaving minimal evidence.

Political leaders, including President Donald Trump, mourned Kirk’s death. Trump ordered U.S. flags to half-staff and called the assassination a “dark moment” in American history.

Kirk’s death comes amid a rise in recent violence, including the Minneapolis church shooting two weeks earlier, where two children were killed and 17 others wounded. The timing of Kirk’s final Instagram activity and his assassination continues to fuel public speculation and grief.