The head of Turning Point USA, the country's leading right-wing youth activist organization, Charlie Kirk was wounded in the neck during a speech at an event at Utah Valley University, writes The New York Times.
University spokesperson Ellen Trenor reported that Mr. Kirk was wounded about 20 minutes after he began speaking on campus grounds. She said the suspect fired at Mr. Kirk from the Losee Center, a building located about 180 meters from the scene, and was detained. The video shows that it is an elderly white man.
Later, as NYT writes, according to university representative Scott Trotter, police determined that the person detained after the shooting was not actually the shooter.
Utah Valley University reported on social media that it closed its campus and canceled classes until further notice. The university urged community members to «immediately leave the campus».
Donald Trump posted a message on social media in support «We all must pray for Charlie Kirk, who was shot, — he wrote on Truth Social. - A great guy in every way. GOD BLESS HIM!»
31-year-old Kirk has become one of the most influential young right-wing figures in the country in recent years and has established himself as a close ally of President Trump. Kirk also co-founded the organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and has since been a regular guest on university campuses, where he holds rallies that often draw large crowds.
Although Kirk is not part of the Trump administration, his influence in the White House is significant, he helped vet potential candidates for positions, testing their loyalty to Trump.
Photo: AP