Right-wing Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead

Right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk, a major ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead on Wednesday in a "political assassination" that sparked fears of more political violence in an increasingly febrile United States.

Trump confirmed on social media that Kirk, 31, had died from his injuries. "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Kirk was hit while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

Video from the scene showed him addressing a large crowd when the sound of a single shot rang out. Kirk appeared to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and sounds of panic erupted in the audience.

Investigators said they believed the single bullet had come from a campus rooftop, fired by someone dressed in black, in what appeared to be a targeted killing.

FBI Director Kash Patel said one person was being held. "The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody," Patel said on X.

Illustrating the huge importance of Kirk in Trump's orbit, the 79-year-old Republican ordered flags on government buildings to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday. American flags at the White House were lowered shortly after the president's order.

"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," Trump wrote. Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters Kirk's killing was "a tragic day for our nation."

"I want to be clear that this is a political assassination," he said.

Cox, a Republican, appealed for Americans to take a step back from such violence as the nation readies to mark a milestone anniversary of its 1776 founding.

"We just need every single person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be, to ask ourselves: Is this what 250 years has wrought on us?"

'He fell back'

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the rally, told Fox News the shooting had happened while Kirk was doing a question-and-answer session with the crowd.