On September 10, 2025, the prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University.
He appeared in front of around 3000 listeners, throwing out MAGA hats to the crowd before engaging in yet another one of his signature college debates. One student, Hunter Kozak, began questioning Kirk about gun violence and the demographics of mass shooters in the past decade. Kirk asked in response, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” These were his last words before receiving a hit to the neck – he was lifted away and taken to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
That Wednesday, the nation erupted: mass panic ensued at the scene, while those across the US took to social media to express their thoughts. A manhunt for the shooter also commenced, and since then, there have been consistent updates. Here is a recap of the significant points of interest.
The Background Information
Charlie Kirk, as part of his American Comeback tour, was set to visit ten different college campuses across America—the first of which was Utah Valley University in Orem. Seated underneath a tent on campus grounds, Kirk initiated the first debates of the event with individuals from the crowd.
Unbeknownst to him and others, however, among the thousands watching him was a then-unidentified suspect, who pulled up to the campus some hours prior with dark clothing and a bolt-action rifle In a visual timeline published by ABC News, the individual, who was later discovered to be a 22-year-old Utah resident named Tyler Robinson, pulled up to the campus and changed into dark clothing before making his way through stairwells.
He perched on a rooftop at around half past eight and sat there undetected until he fired a single shot at Charlie Kirk and fled the scene. Security carried him away, as thousands of live participants watched in distress.
The Aftermath: Suspect
Immediately following the attack, two potential suspects were detained. One was 71-year-old George Zinn, who covered for the real shooter by claiming responsibility and distracting the police – he himself has a serious criminal record apart from the obstruction of justice, the BBC reported. The other has not been named and was released after questioning.
On Friday, September 12th, Tyler Robinson was taken into custody. He is the eldest of three boys and was born into a conservative-registered family, although he himself is not registered. Family members have said he’s only grown more political in recent years, and held “no prior felony or misdemeanor convictions and no prior violent offenses,” said CBS News. Robinson turned himself in after being urged by his father, who recognized him in photos released to the public of the suspect. He was arrested on September 19th. As of his last court appearance, Robinson has received seven charges, including aggravated murder. The state of Utah made it clear that they are seeking the death penalty; the case will continue to play out in the days to come.
The Aftermath: Common Consensus
Outside the investigation and upcoming trial for Robinson, various people on both the left and right had their reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death, which incited further division among the populace. Many sent prayers to Kirk and his family while he was in critical condition. Among the most prominent figures to do so was President Donald Trump, who expressed sorrow after his passing.
“And so on that terrible day, September 10th, 2025,” said Trump at Kirk’s funeral, “our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal. He’s a model now for American freedom.”
At the same time, many who disagreed with Kirk’s views criticised him or, in some cases, took the time to praise the act. Many justify their response by drawing connections to his views on gun violence and his belief that some gun deaths are a necessary cost to keep the Second Amendment in place, as seen in a popular clip online.
Such responses weren’t without repercussions, though. In numerous instances, educators around the nation were fired after posts were made in response. Some were criticisms of the disproportionality of engagement between this shooting and others; others simply referred to him as a nazi.
Even prominent figures in the media have received disciplinary action for their words, notably the popular television host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was temporarily suspended by ABC after he made divisive comments about the incident.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from.”
What Comes Next
Tyler Robinson, in the wake of his crimes, will face many more trials and potentially the death penalty, as intended by the state of Utah. At the same time, some individuals who have received disciplinary action for their online words are suing in retaliation, the outcome of which has yet to be seen. Jimmy Kimmel’s show has also been reinstated, only days after being suspended.
Even as public interest in this topic begins to wane, more developments are expected to emerge over time.
