Watch | Trump Aide Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah College Event

Conservative activist and close friend of US President Donald Trump Charlie Kirk was shot to death on Wednesday while making an appearance at a college in Utah, an event that has served to further highlight increasing alarm over political violence in America.

Trump made the announcement of Kirk's death on social media, referring to the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA as "Great, and even Legendary." He went on Truth Social and said, "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie."

"No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.

Although a person was being held at Utah Valley University, officials explained that individual was not the gunman, a source close to the case said.

Video footage shared on social media captures Kirk speaking to the audience under a marquee with slogans including "The American Comeback" and "Prove Me Wrong." During the middle of his address, a single shot is heard. Kirk is recorded grasping at his neck as blood flows, causing gasps, screams, and panic among the crowd. Associated Press confirmed the videos were shot at the courtyard of Sorensen Center on campus. "We are just verifying that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie," Turning Point USA spokesperson Aubrey Laitsch said.

The event, which was sponsored by Kirk's non-profit, included a debate and question-and-answer session. Moments before the attack, Kirk was answering questions about gun violence and mass shootings.

"Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" an audience members asked. Kirk responded: "Too many."

The questioner followed up: "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?"

"Counting or not counting gang violence?" Kirk asked.

Kirk's visit had already caused controversy on campus. A petition calling on administrators to cancel his appearance had garnered almost 1,000 signatures. The university came to the defense of the event, citing the First Amendment and declaring its commitment to "free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue."

Last week, Kirk even acknowledged the backlash by tweeting on X: "What's going on in Utah?" along with screenshots of critical news coverage.

"We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

The shooting follows a disturbing spike in violence with a political motive across the country. The most recent are the June shooting deaths of a Minnesota state legislator and her husband, a firebombing at a Colorado parade marched to call for Hamas to free hostages, and an arson bombing at the home of the Pennsylvania governor in April. Most conspicuously, Trump himself was the target of an assassination attempt at a campaign rally last year.

Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, told Fox News that he overheard one shot and saw Kirk fall. "It seemed like it was a close shot," he stated, appearing shaken. He went on to say that security was on hand but inadequate. "Utah is one of the safest places on the planet," he said. "And so we just don't have these types of things."

Turning Point USA started out in 2012 when Kirk, just 18 years old at the time, teamed up with Tea Party activist William Montgomery to advocate for limited government and low taxes on college campuses. The organization floundered in its infancy but was soon gaining serious support from conservative donors taken by Kirk's aggressive approach.

While hesitant at first about Donald Trump, the organization welcomed him after he was nominated as the Republican candidate in 2016. Kirk was even a close aide to Donald Trump Jr. in the general election.

From there, Kirk became a regular on cable news, relishing cultural battles and frequently praising Trump. The president and his son, reciprocally, frequently praised Kirk's work and regularly appeared at Turning Point events.