Remembering Charlie Kirk’s haunting last words about gun violence seconds before his assassination at 31

MOMENTS before a bullet pierced Charlie Kirk in the neck in a harrowing scene, the conservative political activist was fielding questions from a student about gun violence in the United States. Kirk, 31, was revered for touring college campuses across the nation, hosting in-person debates with students and challenging them about the current state of affairs impacting American society. Thousands gathered at the campus of Utah Valley University for Charlie Kirk’s The American Comeback Tour on September 10, 2026 Credit: Reuters Law enforcement tapes off an area after Kirk was shot in the neck Credit: AP On September 10, 2025, Kirk was on stage at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 minutes south of Salt Lake City, as part of his organization Turning Point USA’s The American Comeback Tour. About 20 minutes into the start of the event, Kirk was asked a question about the number of mass shooters there have been in America over the last decade. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Kirk responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Seconds later, a single shot rang out, striking Kirk in the neck as he uttered his last word. Thousands were in attendance to witness the harrowing shooting as blood was seen gushing from Kirk’s neck as he fell off his chair. Video captured bystanders screaming, “Get down! Get down!” Kirk was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead hours later. Prosecutors have accused Tyler Robinson, 23, of shooting Kirk from the roof of a nearby campus building. Most read in The Sun The large-scale manhunt in Utah ended less than 33 hours after Kirk’s shooting when Robinson voluntarily surrendered at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Robinson’s relatives told police that sometime before he allegedly carried out the shooting, he spoke about his dislike for Kirk during a family dinner, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. He allegedly criticized Kirk for his hateful views. The family members also said Robinson had become more political in the years leading up to Kirk’s shooting. Robinson will stand trial for Kirk’s shooting following a five-day evidentiary hearing to determine whether the prosecution had gathered enough evidence to try the suspect. The crowd ducks for cover after Charlie Kirk was shot while on stage Credit: AP A judge ruled that Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the murder of Charlie Kirk Credit: Getty He has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty, if Robinson is convicted. During the hearing, David Hull, a former State Bureau of Investigation agent, laid out Robinson’s alleged movements in the moments leading up to the shooting. Hull testified that Robinson arrived at the campus hours before Kirk was scheduled to take the stage. He allegedly purchased a meal from a campus Chick-fil-A restaurant, and made contact with representatives at Turning Point USA. Robinson then changed outfits and posted up on the rooftop overlooking the amphitheater where Kirk was speaking. Surveillance footage showed in court allegedly showed Robinson crouching on the rooftop, then, after the shot rang out and hit Kirk, the suspect was seen sprinting across the roof. Robinson then dropped to the ground level and fled the scene on foot, Hull added. He is due back in court on October 23 for a status hearing. Watch The U.S. Sun‘s interview with Fox host Will Cain about the moment he announced Kirk’s death live on the air.