Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead at campus event in Utah

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Utah authorities said Kirk was killed with a single shot in what is believed to be a targeted attack. Aljazeera reported.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox called it a “political assassination”.

“I’ve been in touch with President Trump, with FBI director Kash Patel. We are completely aligned with our state and federal partners as we work through this case,” Cox said at a news conference.

“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.”

Video of the incident circulating on social media showed Kirk addressing a large outdoor crowd when a loud crack that sounded like a gunshot rang out. Kirk can be seen briefly moving his hand to his neck as he falls off his chair, sending the attendees running.

He was brought to the hospital in critical condition.

FBI director Kash Patel said a suspect in the shooting had been taken into custody