Charlie Kirk dead at 31: Conservative firebrand's life before fatal Utah shooting

One of America's most vocal conservative commentators, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, has been fatally shot while debating students at Utah Valley University, near Salt Lake City. The identity of his shooter remains unknown.

Charlie Kirk rose to national prominence as the CEO and founder of Turning Points USA, a youth media organisation best known for viral videos of Kirk challenging students on liberal college campuses to "prove me wrong," on divisive topics like gun control and abortion.

His movement found a natural home when Donald Trump won the White House in 2016, with Kirk's influence over the youth Republican vote turning him into a close ally of the President, who issued an emotional statement in the wake of his death calling for all flags across the US to be flown at half mast.

Kirk's skyrocketing career came to a fatal end on Wednesday, while Kirk was answering a question on the number of mass shootings in the US. Shortly after he answered, "Counting, or not counting gang violence?" a shot rang out before he could get a response - causing the crowd to flee while he slumped to the ground with blood pouring from his neck.

Donald Trump confirmed Charlie Kirk's death in an emotive post on TruthSocial. He said: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.

"No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.

"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"

President Trump also ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-mast until Sunday evening following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Charlie Kirk was a leading MAGA activist, author, and media personality best known as the co-founder and head of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative youth organisation established in 2012, when he was just 18.

Born on October 14 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Kirk briefly studied at Harper College before deciding to fully commit his career to activism.

The turning point in Kirk's life came after he delivered a speech at Benedictine University, where a wealthy conservative businessman, Bill Montgomery, was watching and noticed his rhetorical ability. With his funding, Kirk was able to found Turning Points USA, which has amassed millions of followers for its divisive and often far-right response to liberal college campuses.

He also founded a UK version of this movement, which has not gained the same traction. Earlier this year, Kirk even travelled across the pond to debate students at the Oxford Union, where he was taken to task over his support for Trump and his many extreme positions over the years.

The past year saw the 31-year-old reach the zenith of his power, becoming a key public spokesperson for Trump's movement both during the campaign and the President's second term in office. This saw Kirk take a headline spot during the inauguration, as well as several appearances in the White House during major moments of Trump's first nine months in office.

Kirk has penned five books advocating a right-wing agenda and supporting President Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again movement. Kirk married his wife Erika Frantzve in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 8, 2021. The couple had two children.

US Vice President JD Vance, one of Kirk's friends and close allies, has called for prayers following a reported shooting during an event featuring Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

He said: "Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father."

FBI Director Kash Patel said the suspect in the fatal shooting is now in custody.

He said: "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."