A nationwide manhunt is underway for the person who fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university event Wednesday. Law enforcement is scrambling for answers as questions mount over how a prominent political figure was gunned down in broad daylight, on a college campus, with no security in place.
Officials haven’t named a suspect yet, and the murder weapon is still missing, according to law enforcement sources. Police swept the campus building-by-building Wednesday night, rifles drawn, but came up empty. Video from the scene shows chaos erupting as officers moved in, clearing students and sealing off access to the area. The university later confirmed the campus remains closed, and evacuations are ongoing.
A spokesperson for the school said that the shooter opened fire from a building roughly 200 yards from Kirk. Moments later, security rushed him into a black SUV—but not before the fatal shot struck. A video circulating online shows Kirk, seated, recoiling violently after being hit in the neck.
Jeremy King, a witness at the event, described the immediate aftermath. “Bodyguards grabbed Kirk and rushed him into an SUV,” he said.
Raydon Dechene, another attendee, said there was virtually no security presence—no bag checks, no ticket scanning. “There were no security measures in place at the event to screen people or even take their tickets,” he said. Just seconds before the shot rang out, Kirk had been addressing a question about transgender mass shooters in America, wearing a white T-shirt that read “FREEDOM” and tossing MAGA hats to supporters.
The shooting has sparked a political firestorm and plunged the country into mourning—and outrage.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social, declaring national mourning and ordering all flags flown at half-staff until Sunday.
Reactions from political leaders poured in quickly, crossing party lines but underscoring deep political tensions. Former President Joe Biden called for calm and condemned the killing, saying, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now.”
Barack Obama added: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.”
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, had long been a polarizing voice in American politics—a staunch defender of conservative values, free speech, and what he saw as the spiritual and cultural decay of the country. But to many on the right, he was more than a political commentator—he was a friend, a fighter, and a symbol of a movement.
“I love you brother,” said Donald Trump Jr. “You gave so many people the courage to speak up and we will not ever be silenced.”
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, said, “All of us must now dedicate ourselves to defeating the evil that stole Charlie from this world.”
Mike Pence called Kirk “a truly good man” and offered prayers for his family. Others followed suit with statements full of grief and defiance.
“There are so many emotions, and so many memories,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “His patriotism was unwavering, energy was limitless, and impact was unmeasurable.”
“Charlie I will miss you forever. And we will fight on in your name,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “It will be one of my life’s greatest honors to do so.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Kirk’s death “a monumental loss” and said, “Charlie will be remembered for his kindness, his loyalty, and his devotion to America.”
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in, calling Kirk “a close friend and confidant” and “someone who will be sorely missed by so many.”
And from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the words were blunt and cutting: “Once again, a bullet has silenced the most eloquent truth teller of an era.”
The manhunt continues with few answers and even fewer leads. But what’s clear is that Kirk’s killing has left a gaping hole in conservative politics and ignited fresh debate around political violence in America.
As law enforcement digs in and the nation watches, Kirk’s supporters are mourning the loss of a man who—in their eyes—never stopped fighting for what he believed in.
The flags may fly at half-staff, but the anger on both sides is only rising.
