The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) mourns the death of Charles James “Charlie” Kirk, a leading conservative activist and youth mobilizer, who was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
At approximately 12:10 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, while speaking at the inaugural stop of his American Comeback Tour, Kirk was shot in the neck by an assailant firing from a building about 200 yards away. He collapsed amid immediate chaos. Security personnel swiftly transported him to a local hospital, where he tragically passed away later that afternoon.
Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are leading the ongoing investigation.
Born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18. Over the years, he led—and expanded—his organization as CEO of multiple affiliated entities: Turning Point Action, Turning Point Faith, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Endowment. He was also a member of the Council for National Policy.
Kirk gained national prominence through his efforts to energize conservative youth movements. He hosted the widely downloaded “Charlie Kirk Show” on radio and had signed on to host “Charlie Kirk Today” on TBN earlier in 2025. He authored Campus Battlefield (2018) and The MAGA Doctrine (2020), both influential in conservative educational and political circles. His public appointments included serving on a presidential commission promoting “patriotic education” and a board at the U.S. Air Force Academy visitors council.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona USA 2012, philanthropist, podcaster, and founder of Everyday Heroes Like You—and their two young children.
This targeted assassination takes place amid a troubling escalation of political violence. In recent months, democratic societies worldwide have witnessed attacks on politicians, Jewish leaders, and even foreign diplomats, including the assassination of an Israeli embassy personnel in Washington DC. These incidents underscore a dangerous climate where violence is increasingly being used to silence voices and destabilize institutions.
Even more troubling is the chorus of voices celebrating Kirk’s murder online. This celebration of violence is a stark reminder that we are engaged in a battle for the soul of our country and the world. The choice is between a future grounded in civility, security, and democracy—or one where intimidation, extremism, and assassination define political life.
ICAN unequivocally condemns political violence. Assassination is terror, not discourse. It threatens democracy, chills civic participation, and emboldens extremists. We call for urgent action to bring the perpetrator to justice, to bolster security for civic and Jewish leaders, and to confront the networks of hate that fuel these attacks.