Charlie Kirk, 31, a right-wing activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event in the western US state of Utah. This is what we know.<\/p>\n
Utah Valley University<\/p>\n
Mr Kirk, the head of the largest conservative youth movement in the United States, which he co-founded in 2012 at the age of 18, was speaking around noon on the campus of Utah Valley University.<\/p>\n
Dressed in a white t-shirt with the word “Freedom” across the front, Mr Kirk sat in a chair under a tent as he answered questions from the large audience gathered around him.<\/p>\n
The event was the first of about 15 scheduled across the country through the end of October.<\/p>\n
A gunshot, then screams<\/p>\n
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, told Fox News that Kirk was responding to a question about “transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out.”<\/p>\n
Mr Kirk collapsed and was then rushed away on a stretcher by his security.<\/p>\n
“As soon as that shot went out, he fell back,” Mr Chaffetz said.<\/p>\n
“Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running.”<\/p>\n
Manhunt ongoing<\/p>\n
According to local authorities, the shot came from the campus, possibly from a rooftop, and the shooter was wearing dark clothing.<\/p>\n
The university initially said that the shooter was at large, but a few hours later, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a suspect had been arrested.<\/p>\n
That person was later released after questioning, Patel said, meaning the search for the shooter is still ongoing.<\/p>\n
Trump announces Charlie Kirk’s death<\/p>\n
Mr Trump announced Mr Kirk’s death, writing on his Truth Social platform: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”<\/p>\n
On the other side of the political spectrum, Democratic figures also condemned the shooting, including Kamala Harris, who said that “political violence has no place in America.”<\/p>\n
Trump vows crackdown<\/p>\n