WASHINGTON, Sept 11 – US president Donald Trump has ordered the flag shall be flown at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk, a political ally of Trump and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, who died after being shot in the neck on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University, media reported.
This happened in less a month when the White House ordered US flags flown at half-staff nationwide from August 27 through August 31, honoring victims of the tragic Minneapolis Catholic school shooting.
“In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M.,” US President Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform after confirming the death of Kirk, a Trump ally.
The local Deseret News reported that Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz earlier said Kirk’s death was confirmed to him by Utah law enforcement officials, Xinhua reported.
Footage shot by local KSL TV 5 showed crowds of people running from the university’s courtyard, where Kirk, 31, was holding a speaking event when the shooting occurred.
People take photos after the American flag on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington, is lowered to half-staff after Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed at an event in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Photo: VCGThe university confirmed the shooting on its official X page. “Today at about 12:10 a shot was fired at the visiting speaker, Charlie Kirk. He was hit and taken from the location by his security,” it said.
Kirk was visiting the campus as part of his “Prove Me Wrong” event. The event included Kirk inviting people on stage from the audience to debate political ideals with him, according to Xinhua.
A video posted online by bystanders showed that Kirk appeared to be hit in the neck after a gunshot rang out.
“Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox on X.
Also on Wednesday, three teens were critically wounded in a shooting at a high school in the foothills of suburban Denver, including the suspected shooter, US media NBC quoted authorities said.
The two shootings on Wednesday came no less than a month when Trump has issued a proclamation ordering the US flag to be flown at half-staff following a shooting in Minneapolis on August 27 during a school Mass that left two students dead and 21 other people hurt, CBS reported. – Global Times
