Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot at a campus event in Utah
Kirk - an influential ally of President Trump - was known for holding outdoor debates on campuses across the US
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," writes Trump. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie"
Police are still looking for the attacker and are going "building to building" to evacuate people - a suspect was taken into custody but later released
Multiple sources say the shot was fired from an academic building around 100-200 yards away. Kirk's wife and two young children were on campus, a senator says
One video shows Kirk being asked about mass shootings before the shot was fired
Kirk, who founded conservative group Turning Point USA aged 18, was close to the president and his family - in January he flew to Greenland with Donald Trump Jr
Kirk's organisation, Turning Point USA, has released a statement confirming the activist's death.
"It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot," the statement reads.
The statement offered condolences and prayers for Kirk's family and loved ones, asking the public to respect their privacy.
The shot that killed Charlie Kirk appears to have been fired from an "elevated position in an academic building", around 100-200 yards away, multiple sources tell the BBC's US partner, CBS.
It is not clear whether the shot was fired from a rooftop or open window.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Image source, ReutersIt's become very quiet - and very somber - at the White House following President Trump's announcement that Charlie Kirk has died.
Just a few moments ago, members of the White House press pool gathered outside after being told that the American flags at the White House were being lowered to half-staff.
It was very quiet outside when that announcement came through, and the only sounds I heard for a few moments were the shutters of cameras and a few reporters speaking softly into cameras, or amongst themselves.
The flag at the North Lawn of the White House came down at exactly 17:20pm EST. The flag on the South Lawn has also been lowered.
There are few staffers still immediately visible in the offices.
Earlier, there was a sense of clear, visceral sense of shock among them. Kirk had close ties with the president, his family and members of the administration - and many of even the younger, junior staffers are members of his enormous, intensely engaged audience of young US conservatives.
Former President Barack Obama has posted on X, offering his condolences to Kirk's family.
"We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy," he writes.
"Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
We can bring you some more reactions from Trump's administration, after the death of Charlie Kirk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is "heartbroken" and "outraged", calling his death an "assassination". "Charlie Kirk's commitment to America's future generations and sense of patriotism will resonate for decades to come," he said.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Kirk "the most extraordinary husband and father".
"America has lost one of its greatest champions," Miller said. "All of us must now dedicate ourselves to defeating the evil that stole Charlie from this world."
We're now hearing from another eyewitness who was at Utah Valley University where Charlie Kirk was speaking before he was shot.
Adam Bartholomew says he was at the event interviewing counter protestors that were speaking against Charlie Kirk's presence on campus.
He says he heard a shot and everybody dropped to the floor.
"There was confusion and people started scrambling for the exits," he tells the BBC.
Bartholomew says there were about 50 or 60 people protesting against Kirk.
Prior to the shooting he says the mood at the event was "great" and people were chanting "U.S.A".
The anti-Kirk protestors were chanting in response with profanities against Kirk, he says
"Several people are in tears," he says of the atmosphere after the shooting.
Bartholomew says he was "surprised" that there was no security at the event. "Nobody stopped me or searched my bag."
Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
US reporter
From his restaurant, Sin Maran didn't hear the shooting - but he saw scores of students fleeing the scene.
"The location is very close to me and then we saw people running," he tells me.
Maran, who owns the university campus sushi restaurant Fishbone, says one person ran into his store to hide and told him that a speaker had been shot.
Video shared with the BBC shows dozens of students sheltering in the restaurant after the shooting.
Maran says when he learned of the shooting, he "turned off the lights everywhere". After 30 minutes, he got a notification to evacuate the campus.
Warning: This video contains distressing images.
Hundreds of students had gathered at the event were Charlie Kirk was shot earlier today.
He had been answering a question from a student when a single shot was fired.
In the video below, crowds are seen fleeing the scene of the incident in panic after the shooting.
Students flee as Kirk shot in front of crowd of hundreds
President Donald Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half mast in the US.
"In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M.," he says in a social media post.
Former US President Joe Biden has offered his condolences to Charlie Kirk's family in a post on social media just now.
"There is no place in our country for this kind of violence," he writes.
"It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones."
Three sources familiar with the investigation into the shooting have told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that a search for the suspect is still ongoing.
A further two law enforcement sources said that police have not yet declared the scene safe for the public.
Utah Valley University (UVU) released a statement asking those "still on campus to secure in place until police officers can safely escort them off campus".
UVU police said they are currently going "building to building" to conduct the evacuation.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe're following the latest updates after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah university campus.
Kirk was one of the most high-profile conservative activists and media personalities in the US and a trusted ally of President Donald Trump.
Kirk, 31, who the president said died after a shooting at a Utah college on Wednesday, was known for holding open-air debates on campuses across the country.
In 2012, at the age of 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA, a student organisation that aims to spread conservative ideals at liberal-leaning US colleges.
His social media and eponymous daily podcast often shared clips of him debating with students about issues such as transgender identity, climate change, faith and family values.
Kirk was married and had two young children.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox says he has just spoken to President Trump after Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley University campus.
"Working with the FBI and Utah law enforcement, we will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy," he says.
Meanwhile, Utah Senator Mike Lee has also tweeted. He describes Kirk as an "American patriot".
"The terrorists will not win. Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift," Lee says.
Image source, Getty ImagesJD Vance and Charlie Kirk in January 2025
US Vice President JD Vance, a friend of the late Charlie Kirk, has just posted on social media.
"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord," he writes.
We're bringing you the latest updates after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a university campus in Utah.
Here's what we do and do not know:
What we know:
What we don't know:
Five sources briefed on the shooting have confirmed to CBS News, BBC's US partner, that Charlie Kirk has died.
US President Donald Trump has announced the death of Charlie Kirk. He was 31 years old.
You can read Trump's full statement below:
Quote MessageThe Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Donald Trump, US president
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead", President Donald Trump has posted on his Truth Social platform.
The 31-year-old was shot at a campus event in Utah on Wednesday afternoon.
Witnesses describe scene before and after Charlie Kirk shot
Several witnesses have described the violence, and the discussion that preceded it.
One student described how Kirk had taken questions on religion, and LGBT issues.
It was while he was being asked about gun violence that he was shot, the student says.
Video taken by witnesses shows the rush to flee the scene after the shooting occurred.
According to officials, Kirk was shot from about 200 yards away, on the opposite side of the quad where he was speaking.
Watch: Students run after Charlie Kirk is shot