Close-up of the moments before and after Charlie Kirk was shot

OREM, Utah (AP) – Just a few weeks after the fall semester, crowds gathered around a white canopy in the grassy university courtyard. They wanted to hear what the speaker below had to say. It’s a typical college scene, with the promise of an exchange of ideas and discussions, except for that size.

This speaker was Charlie Kirkone of the most influential voices in President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, and the event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday attracted more than 3,000 people. The student in his backpack seat saw him as Kirk from the surrounding building, threw a Frisbee-style red magazine cap on the fans wearing a white T-shirt that said “freedom.”

He took his place under the canopy, with the slogans saying “American comeback” and “Prove me wrong.” He picked up a handheld microphone and began to talk to the audience.

A single shot was cracked when he answered a question about gun violence.

The campus was a frequent stop for Kirk.

Podcaster Kirk (31) founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. He embraced the concept of Christian nationalism and often made provocative statements about gender, race, religion and politics. He argued that it was worth having gun deaths every year so we could get a second amendment to protect other God-given rights.

Often he brought those ideas to university campuses, where he was particularly controversial. Kirk was known for openly debating progressives and forcing the audience to chup him to political points.

His campus appearances often sparked protests, and the same was true on Wednesday. An online petition signed by thousands of people called for his speech at Utah State University. Also, another person scheduled for September 30th at Utah State University was cancelled.

“As students at Utah Valley University, we have come to value an environment where we strive for inclusion and diversity,” People said. “However, Charlie Kirk’s planned, spoken engagement threatens this ideal. Kirk’s presence and the message he offers contrast to the value of understanding, acceptance and progress that many of us cherish.”

The university responded by affirming “the commitment to freedom of speech, intellectual research, and constructive dialogue.”

There are no metal detectors or bag checks

Security was light, as typical of Kirk’s events. There were six university police officers assigned to the event and some private security. The student told the Associated Press. Some attendees said no one checked their tickets.

When Kirk arrived, the Cheers rose. The crowd packed the terraced courtyards, and students, including protesters, looked at them from nearby buildings and oversights.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the past decade?” the audience asked.

Kirk replied, “Too many.”

The questioner followed up as follows:

“Are you counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.

Those were his last words before the bullet hit him. Authorities say the shot came from a dark-wearing figure on the roof of the campus.

Blood gushed out of Kirk’s neck. He grabbed the microphone for a moment, then collapsed.

Madison Latin, 21, was dozens of feet to Kirk’s left as the shot echoed. Latin, who had been looking up at Kirk for a long time, saw his body convulsing and saw blood.

And it clicked inside her head: “It was a gunshot. What now?”

Shock, chaos and escape continues

“No! Charlie!” cried out the audience members.

“Go! Run! Go!” another yelled.

The crowd fled from the plaza in multiple directions, sliding, falling and bouncing on the bench as they did.

Kari Bartholomew, state director of Utah Mama for America, said he had taken his 17-year-old son out of school so he could attend Kirk’s event. They were joined by the group and other women of their children. Bartholomew’s son was waiting to ask questions when Kirk was shot. Chaos continued, she couldn’t find him as people collapsed and started running for cover. She later found out that her son was unharmed.

“We were all trying to grab the little kids and get them as close as possible,” she said.

Ryan DeBrees, 25, is working in real estate management and volunteering as the first responder, and said he was surprised that there is no security presence at the event. He expected to have to go through the metal detector, so he left a firearm in his car.

He weaved through a tightly packed crowd to ask questions to Kirk when he heard something similar to “pop” fireworks. After the shot was fired, Devise glanced at the stage and saw Kirk’s head fall.

Devries said the terrorist and panic stampede erupted quickly. Several participants jumped into nearby buildings and ran through the water fountain to escape, he said. Others were covered and hidden.

“People were definitely afraid of their own lives. I could see it in their eyes. I could hear it in their voices. People were crying. People were screaming,” DeBries said.

After the panic subsided, 35-year-old student Erin Lamy heard the gunshot and saw the airpods, phones, keys and trash scattered across the courtyard. When she returned home, she said she recalled her father’s death when she was 13, so she felt Kirk’s wife and children and screamed in her eyes.

“Peaceless,” Rammy said.

Within a few hours, his death reverberated throughout the country.

The shooting elicited criticism from the entire political spectrum as an example of Escalating the threat of political violence in the United Statesincluding the assassination of a democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in June, and the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington in May. President Donald Trump listened to the campaign trails in western Pennsylvania last year.

“Today, the young man was murdered in cold blood, expressing his political views,” former President George W. Bush said. “It happened on university campuses, where the open exchange of opposing ideas must be sacred. Violence and Vitriol must be removed from the public square.”

Former Democratic President Joe Biden expressed his sadness to X. “Jill and I pray for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones.”

Late Wednesday night, the shooters remained overall. Police helicopters still surrounded Orem in the evening, and obstacles caused crowds on the streets surrounding campus. The armed officers roamed in small groups.

I was standing on a street corner just outside campus with a sign that said “Rip Charlie.” A parade of trucks passed through towns flying the American flag in his honor.

On a nearby all night, dozens of people gathered together and embraced an electric candle in the diagonal afternoon light. The speaker read a biblical poem on the quiet attendees and on the chaotic afternoon behind them.

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Johnson reported from Seattle. Associated Press reporters from all over the country contributed.