Charlie Kirk was answering question about trans mass shooters when shot rang out

(KRON) — Right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was answering a question about transgender mass shooters at a university forum when he was fatally shot Wednesday. Kirk, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, was on campus holding an event at Utah Valley University when he was shot in the neck.

Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence, the Associated Press reported.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience member asked Kirk.

“Too many,” Kirk responded.

The questioner followed up, asking, “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”

“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk responded.

It was then that the fatal shot rang out.

UVU officials said the campus was immediately evacuated and remained closed. Initial reports suggested that a suspect had been taken into custody. However, subsequent updates from officials indicated that no suspect was in custody and the shooter remained at large.

Kirk, who spoke at San Francisco State University earlier this year with anti-trans athlete activist Riley Gaines, was outspoken on matters related to gun violence.

Charlie Kirk gun quote

Kirk, 31, notably one said, “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our God-given rights.”

Politicial leaders on both sides of the aisle have condemned the fatal shooting of the Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who hosted Kirk on an episode of his podcast, said, “We should all feel a deep sense of grief and outrage at the terrible violence that took place in Utah today. Charlie Kirk’s murder is sick and reprehensible, and our thoughts are with his family, children, and loved ones.”

President Donald Trump said, “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”

Trump later confirmed that Kirk had died following the shooting in a social media post. The president ordered flags flown at half-staff in observance of Kirk’s death.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.