Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on Wednesday, Sept. 10, during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The shooting occurred 20 minutes into Kirk’s appearance on his “American Comeback Tour,” where he invited students to ask questions and challenge his views in a forum.
Many students reposted tributes on social media, and several SMU fraternity houses, including Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Theta, displayed signs in memory of Kirk.
“The moment we heard there were gunshots, it was just immediate devastation,” SMU senior Andrew Gibson said. “A man was just killed in front of thousands of witnesses. That’s just tragic.”
Kirk rose to prominence in 2012 when he launched TPUSA, a student-led organization that promotes limited government and conservative values on college campuses. The group has more than 800 chapters nationwide, including one at SMU.
Over the past decade, Kirk frequently visited universities, engaging in “Prove Me Wrong” debates with students and building a national platform as one of the political right’s most outspoken and controversial voices.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, about 50 students and community members gathered on Dallas Hall Lawn for a prayer vigil organized by SMU’s TPUSA chapter. Attendees lit candles, prayed together and sang worship songs to honor Kirk and his legacy.
“Standing up for what you believe in times like class, or amongst your peers, or anytime you’re involved in any sort of situation in academia, isn’t the easiest thing,” said Preston Patten, president of the TPUSA chapter. “That’s one thing Charlie preached to high heavens is that even if you’re the only one standing, stand up for what you believe.”
Other members of TPUSA reflected on Kirk’s influence on both the American political landscape and their personal lives.
“I met my best friend at a Turning Point event in June and we’ve been inseparable ever since,” said Morgan Comiskey, TPUSA member. “I never would have met her if it wasn’t for Charlie Kirk and the organization that he started when he was 18. I can’t say enough about what he’s done for college students.”
The suspect in the killing has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson and is being held without bail in a Utah jail on several charges, according to officials. Authorities identified him Friday and said they believe he acted alone.
