Charlie Kirk fatally shot while answering question about gun violence & mass shootings

Conservative right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was answering a question about gun violence when he was shot and killed on Sep. 10 (U.S. time) during a campus event at Utah Valley University.

Footage of his last words and shooting have been widely circulated online.

Talking about mass shootings

Kirk was seated at his signature "Prove Me Wrong" booth under a tent on the first stop of his American Comeback Tour in Orem, Utah, when an audience member asked him about mass shootings.

The shooting occurred approximately 20 minutes into his question-and-answer session with a crowd of about 3,000 in attendance, most of them students.

Last words

The audience member asked: “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?”

Kirk replied: “Too many.”

The same audience member said that the number was five.

Kirk was then asked if he knew how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years.

Kirk replied: “Counting or not counting gang violence?”

A moment later, a shot was audible in the video and Kirk recoiled in his seat.

A wound on his neck appeared.

He fell over.

The crowd screamed and ducked for cover.

Audience confused initially

The timing of the shooting confused the audience at the scene.

An onlooker interviewed by CNN said he initially thought the shooting was "an act or performance" because it took place as he was speaking about gun rights.

“My first thought was it was part of an act or performance, right, because you’re just not thinking clearly," Jeremy King, 45, said.

"Because they’re interviewing and asking about gun rights with the (LGBTQ+) community.”

Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children.

Top photos via X