Police dispatch audio has revealed the harrowing moments following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA was shot dead during a debate-style event in Orem, Utah, sparking chaos on campus and triggering an immediate manhunt for the gunman.
The chilling recordings, released late Thursday, capture the raw panic and confusion in the first few minutes after the shooting. One officer can be heard asking, “How many injured?” The reply came quickly: “Just one person.” Another voice reported, “Report of one individual that was shot. Unknown where the shooter went. We’re getting several calls. We’re trying to get more information.”
Officers rushed to lock down key parts of the campus, including the university library, while others relayed early suspect descriptions. Police dispatchers described the gunman as wearing jeans, a black shirt, a black mask, and carrying a long rifle. Witnesses reported seeing a figure running across the roof of the Losee Center moments after the shots rang out. Authorities later confirmed that the fatal bullet had been fired from that rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck as he spoke on stage.
The shooting unfolded in front of a horrified audience of students and supporters. Graphic video from the scene showed Kirk collapsing as blood poured from his wound, while panicked attendees screamed for cover. Bystanders frantically shouted, “Get down! Get down!” as the debate hall descended into chaos.
The FBI quickly joined local law enforcement in the investigation. Director Kash Patel confirmed that one person of interest had been taken into custody, but the individual was later released without charges. He emphasized that the investigation remains active, with heavily armed officers conducting door-to-door searches in the surrounding area. Officials have described the killing as a “targeted political assassination,” intensifying fears about politically motivated violence.
Kirk, a frequent Fox News guest and a polarizing figure in American politics, was well known for his fiery rhetoric and strong advocacy for conservative causes. Through Turning Point USA, the organization he co-founded, he became a prominent voice on college campuses nationwide, often sparking heated debate over issues such as free speech, gun rights, and immigration.
Just minutes before he was killed, Kirk had been answering questions about gun violence in America. His murder brought the event—intended as the first stop on Turning Point USA’s “American Comeback Tour”—to a tragic and abrupt halt.
President Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk’s, mourned his death in a statement posted to Truth Social: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve, and their two young children. His killing has left both supporters and critics stunned, raising urgent questions about political violence, campus safety, and the direction of public discourse in the United States.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, stressing that the shooter remains at large. The manhunt continues. video credit daily mail
