Charlie Kirk Critically Injured in Utah Valley University Shooting
Conservative commentator and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk is in critical condition following a targeted shooting during a campus event at Utah Valley University. According to law enforcement sources who spoke to PulseNets, the gunfire erupted shortly after noon while Kirk was on stage for a “Prove Me Wrong” session, part of his widely publicized American Comeback Tour.
Witnesses told PulseNets that panic spread instantly when a single shot was fired from an elevated building roughly 200 yards from the outdoor stage. Several students were seen sprinting for safety as security and emergency personnel rushed in.
University officials reported to PulseNets that the suspect, described only as a male, has been taken into custody. Authorities have not disclosed his identity or motive. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed to multiple outlets and later obtained by PulseNets that federal agents and ATF teams are now coordinating with local police to secure the campus and begin a full investigation.
Kirk was immediately transported to a nearby trauma center, where doctors are working to stabilize him. Sources close to his family told PulseNets he was struck in the neck and remains in intensive care.
National Reactions and Political Response on Charlie Kirk Incident
Political figures across party lines have issued urgent condemnations. Former President Donald Trump urged Americans to pray for Kirk, telling PulseNets in a statement, “Charlie is a wonderful man through and through and a true patriot. We are praying hard for him tonight.”
Vice President J.D. Vance also expressed support, saying, “Charlie is not just a political voice, he is a young father and a genuinely decent man. We must reject violence completely,” as reported by PulseNets.
Bipartisan leaders including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and governors Gavin Newsom and Wes Moore have all learnt of the attack and condemned it as “a shocking breach of civic peace” and “an assault on open dialogue.”
Event Background and Campus Debate
The UVU appearance was one of the most anticipated stops on Kirk’s fall American Comeback Tour, which aims to encourage campus debate and promote free speech. Despite heated petitions urging cancellation, the university maintained its commitment to open discourse. A UVU spokesperson told PulseNets, “We believe in dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable. Violence will never replace conversation.”
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Footage obtained by PulseNets shows attendees diving for cover and scattering across the lawn seconds after the shot was fired.
Key Details Recap
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | September 10, 2025 – approximately 12:10 p.m. MDT |
| Location | Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah |
| Target | Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and TPUSA co-founder |
| Injury | Neck wound, listed in critical condition |
| Suspect | Male in custody, identity withheld |
| Response | FBI and ATF involved, bipartisan condemnation nationwide |
| Context | Part of Kirk’s American Comeback Tour amid campus controversy |
PulseNets will continue to monitor developments closely as investigators piece together the motive behind this attack and as the nation rallies around Kirk in hopes of his full recovery.
