why did charlie kirk get shot

Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was addressing a large crowd as part of his "American Comeback Tour" when a single shot was fired from the roof of the Losee Center, hitting him in the neck. The shooter used a high-powered bolt-action rifle and fired from a significant distance. The shooting occurred during a discussion about mass shootings in the United States, with Kirk responding to questions from the audience at the time. The attacker fled after the shooting but was later apprehended. The motive is described by authorities as a targeted political assassination, highlighting the growing issue of political violence in the U.S. Kirk's killing has caused widespread shock and condemnation across political lines.