EXPLAINER: Who was Trump ally Charlie Kirk?

On a Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, a crowd of more than 3,000 people had gathered to hear the influential conservative activist speak.

He was answering a question about gun violence, a topic central to his political brand, when a single shot rang out.

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot. The bullet struck him in the neck.

Videos of the event showed him briefly reaching for the wound before slumping over. Blood gushed from his body as chaos erupted, with attendees screaming and ducking for cover.

Kirk's death was confirmed by President Donald Trump.

“I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law and the patriotic devotion & love of God,” Trump said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel, they are investigating the incident they described as a ‘tragic shooting’.

“The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody. Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with @fbi. We will provide updates when able.”

The event at Utah Valley University was part of his ‘American Comeback Tour’. The tour was a series of planned college appearances.

A petition had circulated on campus calling for the university to bar Kirk from speaking. Officials defended the event as an exercise in free speech.

Charles James Kirk was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on October 14, 1993.

His political activism began in high school, where he volunteered for Republican political campaigns.

In 2012, at age 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA with Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery an organisation that promotes conservative politics on high school and college campuses.

Kirk served as its executive director and under his leadership, Turning Point USA grew into a major force in youth politics.

The organization's affiliates include Turning Point Action, Turning Point Faith, and Turning Point Academy.

Kirk was a vocal and public supporter of President Trump and a frequent speaker at conservative events.

He also hosted a daily radio show, "The Charlie Kirk Show" and was known for his provocative statements.

He was an evangelical Christian with beliefs intertwined with his political views. He argued there was no true separation of church and state.

Kirk also promoted the "Seven Mountain Mandate," which calls for Christians to lead in seven areas of society. These include politics, media, and education.

He was a staunch supporter of gun rights and often engaged in debates with students at his campus events.

Charlie Kirk's career was inextricably linked to the rise of Donald Trump. While he was initially ambivalent toward Trump in 2016, Kirk quickly became a staunch supporter after the former president clinched the GOP nomination.

He served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the 2016 general election and became a regular presence on cable TV, where he praised the then-president.

Kirk played a pivotal role in the 2024 Trump campaign through his ‘You're Being Brainwashed’ tour. He visited dozens of college campuses in an effort to rally young voters.