Officials react to assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley event
Curtis Booker, Daily Herald
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to a crowd of reporters during a press briefing at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, after an event where Charlie Kirk was assassinated.Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the Utah County community and across the nation.
The Utah County commissioners called the shooting “devastating news” and a “chilling reminder of the dangers of political violence.”
“There is no justification — none — for responding to disagreement with violence,” the commissioners said. “In a democratic society, the right to speak freely and challenge ideas must be protected, not punished. We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest possible terms and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to justice.”
UVU Vice President Val Peterson said Kirk was invited by the Turning Point USA student group to speak on campus and that the school was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.
“We express our sincere condolences to the Kirk family,” Peterson said. “We grieve with our students, faculty and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy.”
Orem City added that it was “devastated” by the events.
“This type of violence should never happen anywhere, let alone in our community,” the city said.
Numerous state agencies extended their support to UVU, which closed its campus Wednesday and canceled a women’s soccer game.
“The Utah Chiefs of Police Association is confident that the Utah Valley University Police Department and their law enforcement partners will exhaust all efforts in the investigation of this heinous crime and will bring those responsible to justice. Our condolences go out to the Charlie Kirk family,” the Utah Chiefs of Police Association said.
The Utah Board of Higher Education vowed to work with state leaders to identify ways to keep campuses safe.
“We believe strongly that Utah’s campuses must remain places where individuals can share and debate differing viewpoints openly and respectfully. Attempts to diminish that freedom have no place here and we will continue working to ensure our students, faculty and visitors feel safe to express themselves,” spokesperson Trisha Dugovic said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extended its prayers to Kirk’s family and condemned “violence and lawless behavior.”
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the shooting that took place at Utah Valley University resulting in the death of Charlie Kirk,” church spokesman Doug Andersen said. “Our prayers go out to his family at this time. We condemn violence and lawless behavior. We also pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion and goodness. For members of the Church, we reaffirm the Savior’s teaching and admonition is to love our neighbor.”
Prominent political leaders also addressed the incident, with President Donald Trump ordering flags to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. Sunday.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump said. “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!”
Former President Barack Obama posted on X: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this is the kind of despicable violence that has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee called the murder “a cowardly act of violence” and called for prayers to Kirk’s family and justice.
“Charlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great,” Lee said.
Officials react to assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley event
Well-wishers pay their respects at a makeshift memorial at the national headquarters of Turning Point USA shown after the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the organization, during a Utah college event Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the Utah County community and across the nation.
The Utah County commissioners called the shooting “devastating news” and a “chilling reminder of the dangers of political violence.”
“There is no justification — none — for responding to disagreement with violence,” the commissioners said. “In a democratic society, the right to speak freely and challenge ideas must be protected, not punished. We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest possible terms and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to justice.”
UVU Vice President Val Peterson said Kirk was invited by the Turning Point USA student group to speak on campus and that the school was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.
“We express our sincere condolences to the Kirk family,” Peterson said. “We grieve with our students, faculty and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy.”
Orem City added that it was “devastated” by the events.
“This type of violence should never happen anywhere, let alone in our community,” the city said.
Numerous state agencies extended their support to UVU, which closed its campus Wednesday and canceled a women’s soccer game.
“The Utah Chiefs of Police Association is confident that the Utah Valley University Police Department and their law enforcement partners will exhaust all efforts in the investigation of this heinous crime and will bring those responsible to justice. Our condolences go out to the Charlie Kirk family,” the Utah Chiefs of Police Association said.
The Utah Board of Higher Education vowed to work with state leaders to identify ways to keep campuses safe.
“We believe strongly that Utah’s campuses must remain places where individuals can share and debate differing viewpoints openly and respectfully. Attempts to diminish that freedom have no place here and we will continue working to ensure our students, faculty and visitors feel safe to express themselves,” spokesperson Trisha Dugovic said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extended its prayers to Kirk’s family and condemned “violence and lawless behavior.”
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the shooting that took place at Utah Valley University resulting in the death of Charlie Kirk,” church spokesman Doug Andersen said. “Our prayers go out to his family at this time. We condemn violence and lawless behavior. We also pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion and goodness. For members of the Church, we reaffirm the Savior’s teaching and admonition is to love our neighbor.”
Prominent political leaders also addressed the incident, with President Donald Trump ordering flags to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. Sunday.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump said. “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!”
Former President Barack Obama posted on X: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this is the kind of despicable violence that has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee called the murder “a cowardly act of violence” and called for prayers to Kirk’s family and justice.
“Charlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great,” Lee said.
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