September 10, 2025
It was one shot.
Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who witnessed the shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college campus on Wednesday; Kirk died from his injuries.
Who: Charlie Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA – “widely considered the largest and most influential conservative youth organization in the U.S” (Desert News). One of the key ways he made a name for himself came by appearing on college campuses and engaging in open debates about controversial topics from gender identity to abortion to gun laws and beyond; he called these “prove me wrong” tables. His Christian faith served as the central compass for many of his beliefs.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, at the age of 18. It evolved to include several other organizations under the “Turning Point” umbrella – including a political action committee.
What: A single shot struck and killed Kirk while he answered questions from the crowd.
When: Midday Wednesday, September 10th, approximately 20 minutes after he began speaking.
Where: Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about an hour south of Salt Lake City.
How: A shot from 200-yards away, targeting Kirk as he spoke to a crowd. The event was part of a string of appearances Kirk planned to make on college campuses this Fall.
Why: No known motive. According to FBI Director Kash Patel at the time of this reporting, authorities took a person of interest into custody but have since released them.
This is a developing story.
by Jenna Lee, Founder of SmartHER News
