U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday during an event at a Utah university.
Authorities had not publicly identified a suspect by Wednesday evening, nearly six hours after the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that an unnamed “subject” had been detained for questioning but was later released
Officials said the suspect likely fired from a rooftop at a considerable distance. Approximately 3,000 people were gathered at the event.
Kirk was one of the most influential pro-Trump activists and conservative media figures in the United States. He co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, an organization promoting conservative politics on high school and university campuses, and had amassed millions of followers.
The killing marks the latest in a series of attacks on U.S. political figures, including two assassination attempts on President Trump last year.
Who is Charlie Kirk ?
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in an act that the state’s governor called a “political assassination.”
A “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday evening, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, though no charges were immediately announced.
