Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a public appearance on Sept. 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University.

Fox News reported that Kirk was shot while addressing a campus audience, with longtime friend and Christian apologist Frank Turek present and later recounting the tragic final moments of his life during a commemorative podcast recording.

The incident occurred as Kirk was fielding questions from students during a Turning Point USA event in Orem, Utah. He had just begun answering a question related to transgender violence when a single gunshot rang out from the audience. Witnesses reported immediate panic as the crowd rapidly dispersed.

Frank Turek, who had traveled with Kirk earlier that morning, was approximately 30 feet away when the shooting occurred. The two men had spent the ride to the university with Kirk’s team, preparing for potential student dialogue and discussing how best to engage with the campus community. Before the event, Kirk also made a short appearance speaking to a local entrepreneurs group, then mingled with supporters and threw hats into the crowd.

Kirk had placed trust in his security team and local law enforcement for protection at the venue, despite Turek expressing concerns about elevated vantage points from surrounding buildings. Kirk appeared confident in the safety arrangements prior to the start of the event. Tragically, one bullet was all it took to end his life in an otherwise controlled environment.

Desperate Efforts to Save His Life

Moments after the shooting, Turek and members of the security detail sprang into action. They carried Kirk to an SUV and rushed him to the hospital, performing CPR en route. The four-mile drive was undertaken with the back door open, as Kirk’s tall frame prevented it from closing properly.

“Charlie’s so tall, we can't close the door,” Turek recalled on the podcast, later adding, “We drove four miles… all the way to the hospital with the door open.” The scene was frantic as those in the vehicle took turns trying to resuscitate Kirk, with Turek repeatedly urging, “Come on, Charlie! Come on! Come on!”

Upon arrival, doctors were able to briefly restore Kirk’s pulse, but his injuries—described by hospital personnel as catastrophic—left no realistic chance of survival. A surgeon pronounced him dead approximately 30 minutes after admittance.

“He Was With Jesus Already”

Turek stated that from the moment Kirk collapsed, it was clear to him that his friend had already passed. “Charlie wasn’t there. His eyes were fixed,” he remembered. “He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking past me right into eternity.”

He continued, “He was with Jesus already. He was killed instantly and felt absolutely no pain. If that’s any comfort at all, Charlie didn’t suffer. He was gone. He was with Jesus.” For Turek, these moments confirmed that Kirk had died doing what he loved—engaging students and championing his deeply held beliefs.

After Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, was notified, she was transported to the hospital to be with him in his final moments. Despite the heartbreak, she committed to carrying forward her husband’s work and mission.

Legacy Continued Through Grief

Following the shooting, Erika discovered Kirk’s cross necklace inside Turek’s computer bag, which someone had used as a pillow while attempting to stabilize Kirk in the back of the vehicle. Turek later accompanied Erika as she escorted Kirk’s body back to their home state of Arizona.

On Sept. 11, 2025, Erika led a solemn motorcade to Hansen Mortuary Chapel in Phoenix. Supporters lined the streets to pay tribute as she held the recovered necklace and waved solemnly from the vehicle.

In Utah, university students organized an evening vigil to remember Kirk. The event honored not just his political work but his Christian faith, consistent with his message of leadership rooted in humility and spiritual conviction.

Remembering A Controversial yet Devoted Figure

On the memorial podcast episode, Turek emphasized Kirk’s unwavering commitment to his family and beliefs. He described Kirk as a "fearless, relentlessly Christ-centered leader" who remained humble and focused even in the face of frequent public criticism and controversy.

“People misunderstood Charlie,” Turek said. “Often, his more debated statements were twisted by critics who didn’t take time to understand his full message.” Still, those close to Kirk saw a man driven by his values and singular in his sense of purpose.

One of Kirk’s final text messages to Turek, sent the day before the shooting, quoted a verse from 1 Corinthians, saying, “A wide door for effective work has opened up to me, and there are many adversaries.” The message, for those who heard it, seemed to foreshadow his enduring passion and the resistance he expected to face.