Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot dead at campus event in US

New Delhi, Sep 11: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. He was 31. Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and founder of Turning Point USA, had been addressing a crowd of more than 3,000 people when the fatal shot was fired.

Footage circulating online suggests the shooter may have fired from a rooftop near the event site. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as attendees fled in panic. Kirk was rushed to hospital by his private security team but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, reports BBC.

Confusion has surrounded the investigation, with officials initially indicating that a suspect was in custody before later clarifying that two men arrested had since been released. Authorities say the gunman remains at large. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the search is ongoing, with police conducting door-to-door checks in the area around the university.

The university has closed its campus through the weekend as heavily armed officers continue to patrol the area. Kirk rose to prominence in his late teens after founding Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organisation, and became a regular presence on US campuses, hosting debates.

He maintained close ties with Trump and his family. Law enforcement officials say CCTV shows a figure dressed in dark clothing on a nearby building, believed to be the source of the gunfire. The suspect has not yet been identified.