Witnesses told the BBC that the gunman opened fire on Kirk as he was about to begin his speech at Utah Valley University. Police said the suspect had been taken into custody.

Kirk's conservative youth organization, Turning Point USA, also confirmed that Kirk had been shot. According to the BBC, Kirk was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Turning Point USA, a non-governmental organization, aims to spread conservative ideas on campuses in the United States. Kirk is known for organizing debates on American universities.

Several White House officials have reacted to Kirk's shooting, including US Secretary of War Pete Hegsett and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, US Vice President Vance, and US President Trump, who in a post on the social media platform"Truth Social" called for prayers for Kirk.