Federal authorities are searching for the person who shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university earlier today.
The attack took place at an outdoor event where Kirk was addressing a crowd of more than 3,000 people.
The 31-year-old was shot in the neck, and confirmed dead at a nearby hospital.
Authorities have described the incident as a “political assassination”.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
Kirk was considered an influential figure in conservative politics and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
He was a podcaster and the founder of Turning Point USA, an organisation aimed at promoting conservative politics to young people. Kirk had given talks at thousands of high schools and universities across the U.S.
Over the years, he amassed a large following on social media, with more than five million Twitter followers.
Kirk had previously supported the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which includes “the right to bear arms”.
In the moments before he was shot, Kirk was answering a question about gun violence.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
The shooting
Kirk was shot in the neck and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
The stage where Kirk was speaking was in the centre of the Utah Valley University campus, surrounded by buildings. Authorities believe the attack was “a long-distance shot from a roof.”
Plain-clothed police officers and Kirk’s private security team were among the first responders as crowds of people fled the scene.
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Suspects
Police have interrogated two people today.
One was arrested and released, while another remains in custody on charges related to “obstruction of justice.”
Authorities said there was “one shot fired, and one victim.”
Reactions
In a statement to social media, Turning Point USA asked supporters to “keep [Kirk’s] family and loved ones in [their] prayers.”
In a video statement, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination“.
“An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together we will ensure that his voice, his message, and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come,” Trump said.
Utah Valley University says it is continuing to work with authorities investigating the “unspeakable attack”.
The university said it will increase police presence on campus to ensure community safety and provide mental health support for students and safety.
The FBI has established a tip line, urging the public to provide any information that could lead to an arrest.
Violence
Kirk’s murder was the second shooting on a school campus on the same day, following an attack that wounded two high school students in Colorado.
It is also the latest in a series of political attacks, including two assassination attempts against Trump.
In June, a 57-year-old man was charged with the murder of state Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband in their Minnesota home, and the non-fatal shooting of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, also a Democrat.
