Tragedy struck Utah Valley University when conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was gunned down in broad daylight during a campus event.
Fox News reported that the heartbreaking incident unfolded on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, around 12:20 p.m. local time, as Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was assassinated by a sniper just 20 minutes into his speech at a public event in Orem, Utah, with the FBI now releasing photos of a person of interest and offering a substantial reward for information.
The timeline of this devastating event began earlier that day when Kirk’s speech kicked off at noon, drawing a massive crowd—estimates from the Utah Department of Public Safety peg attendance at around 3,000, while organizers noted 1,400 RSVPs, many from out of state.
Authorities believe the suspected shooter arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m., stealthily making their way to a rooftop via a stairwell of a university building, roughly 200 yards from the green space where Kirk addressed the crowd.
By 12:20 p.m., shots rang out from that elevated position, striking Kirk, who was immediately rushed away by his security team as chaos erupted, with graphic footage capturing the crowd’s panic—screams echoing as attendees fled for safety.
Videos circulating online also appear to show movement on that same rooftop, a chilling hint of the sniper’s calculated perch before they fled by leaping down the opposite side of the building into a nearby neighborhood.
The FBI has now stepped in with urgency, releasing two images of a person of interest described as a thin male sporting jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt with an American flag graphic, dark sunglasses, and a hat.
Dispatch audio paints a slightly different picture, with a female dispatcher noting the suspect wore all black, carried a long gun, and possibly donned a tactical helmet, mask, and vest—details that suggest a premeditated, military-style operation.
“He’s going to be wearing all black,” the dispatcher warned, a description that raises eyebrows about how such a figure could blend into a bustling campus of over 40,000 students without raising alarm.
Investigators have traced the shooter’s escape route, uncovering critical evidence like a high-powered, bolt-action rifle, alongside foot, palm, and forearm imprints tied to the crime scene—clues that could crack this case wide open.
The FBI isn’t holding back, announcing a $100,000 reward for tips leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible, a clear signal they mean business in bringing justice for Kirk and his grieving family.
“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000,” the agency declared on X, though one wonders if any amount can truly compensate for the loss of a voice so pivotal to conservative youth outreach.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to mourn Kirk’s passing, calling him “Great, and even Legendary,” and extending sympathies to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family—a sentiment that resonates with many who saw Kirk as a beacon for traditional values.
Ellen Treanor, a university official, confirmed the event’s context, stating, “We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group,” underscoring that this was no random act but a targeted strike against a prominent figure on a campus stage.
As the nation reels from this loss, the investigation presses on with two individuals briefly taken into custody and released, leaving more questions than answers about who orchestrated this attack and why—though the motive seems clear to those weary of the cultural battles Kirk fearlessly fought.
