Shocked remains US society by murder of conservative activist Charlie Kerk, with the FBI to have launched a manhunt to identify the perpetrator of the horrible crime.
Charlie Kerk supporter of Donald Trump and father of two, was assassinated during an event at the event USAcreating many questions about security at universities.
On Wednesday, 10.09.2025 at the University of Utah, conservative activist Charlie Kerk followed the familiar event that has made many times: a large outdoor gathering with students, live political discussions and cooperation with the University Police.
Reportedly, only one shot from the building roof was needed over 100 meters away to collapse everything.
Charlie Kerk’s targeted murder came to be added to Increase in political violence in the US and revealed a new and worrying danger to universities.
New wave of violence
National Security analyst Juliet Kayem told CNN: “Political violence has been liberated. We are no longer talking about individual attacks. It is done by both the left and the right. What we all need to understand is that a free society exists only when you can get into politics, as Charlie Kerk did, and talk without risking you dying. This is an attack not only in Kerk but also in the United States. “
The murder of Charlie Kerkit brings fears that violence will bring another violence than those who seek revenge, expanding an even deeper cycle of bloodshed.
As they believe, US President Donald Trump and other officials will be judged by their messages about their murder and attitude if they will keep this wave under control.
Donald Trump said, “This is a dark moment for America,” describing Kerk as “Witness of Truth and Freedom”.
The challenge of security
Universities have plans to deal with mass shots, but there were no examples in recent years where a university speaker was targeted and murdered in such a way.
The long -range shooting attack is reminiscent of more risks facing heads of state and it is almost impossible to prevent without “secret services” and special controls.
NEW: The gun recovered in Charlie Kirk assassination.
Source: New York Post pic.twitter.com/tBU8DOQiVX
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 11, 2025
But so heavy security measures (entry controls, metal detectors, bag controls) contradict the open nature of American university life.
The deficiencies in the safety of the event
University police chief Jeff Long said six police officers had taken over the event. Some were among the crowd of politicians, while others were in a prominent spot and pointed out that there was coordination with the Kerk security team.
However, the point where Kerk was talking about was surrounded by taller buildings with terraces that offered a clear perspective to the space. This made the space vulnerable.
About 3,000 students attended the event, without any checking at the entrance.
The Role of the Private Security of Kerk
The photos show at least two men with black t -shirts, members of Kerk’s private security. Their role was to protect him from close threats, not from a distance fire.
Former FBI agent Greg Safer explained: “If someone was taking a gun close, they could react. The problem was that the bullet came from afar. “
Only with scattered snipers (Countersnipers) could be protected in such a scenario – something impossible for a university police.
The open event that cost him
The event was designed to be accessible: In a video, a local branch of the Kerk organization showed the students how to find the site starting from the student center and passing through open doors.
The fact that it was an open event was part of its charm, but also the reason why there was no security.
The shock for students and reactions
At the time of the attack, Kerk was answering a question about mass killings. The crowd panicked and ran to be saved, as videos show on social networks.
Students have reacted as they have learned from young men with security exercises: to run, to hide, to fight if needed, the Washington Post reports
What do security experts say in universities
University security expert Daniel Carter said it is not a solution to close universities and become camps. “The essence of higher education is the open campus,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that only the President/Vice -President’s Security Service could prevent such a hit with controls on the terraces and surrounding buildings.
Other experts have said that this kind of events may be needed in the future.
The discussion of gun possession
The incident is expected to rekindle the controversy over whether weapons in universities should be allowed.
In Utah, the law changed in May, giving people 18 years of age or older with a weapon of weapons to bring a weapon to campus.
Manhunt
The FBI has released a picture of the perpetrator looking for the murder of Charlie Kerk during a speech at a Utah University in the US, calling for the people to help identify it.
Posting the photo comes a few hours after FBI’s announcement that It has clear videos with the alleged perpetrator While according to an informative note by the federal authorities who have taken over the case, the Police authorities identified the perpetrator’s rifle in a wooded area, through which he escaped after shot Kerk.
We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
1-800-CALL-FBI
Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025
In a revealing reportage Wall Street Journal reported that cartridges found in the perpetrator’s weaponthey had engraved anti -fascist slogans and messages in favor of trans people.
The timeline of the murder that shocked the world
Kerk, who was known for his speeches in campuses in all the US, was at Utah Valley University for the first of the many scheduled events in campuses.
Wearing a simple white short -sleeved t -shirt with the word “Freedom” and dark pants, sitting in a chair under a white scene with the blue and red colors of the American Comeback tour, he answered questions from an outdoor public.
Video showed that Kerk was discussing with a student about mass shots before he was killed.
“Do you know how many American transsexuals have been a perpetrators of mass shooting in the last 10 years?” Kirk wondered before answering: “Too many”.
Kerk wondered again: “Do you know how many mass executors have been in America for the last 10 years?” He replied: “Counting or not the violence of gangs?” before a shot is heard. These were his last words. Kerk collapsed in his chair seconds later.
Who was Charlie Kerk
Kerk was one of the largest US conservative voices, media personalities and Trump’s main ally.
He was a co -founder of Turning Point USA, a non -profit organization that defends conservative policy in school and university schools when he was only 18 years old.
With its co -founder, William Montgomery, the organization aimed to convey their ideas for lower taxes and less state to campus cities in all the US. They argued that their non -profit organization provided a counterweight to liberal policy that largely dominated campuses.
Turning Point enthusiastically supported Trump as soon as he won the presidency in 2016, with Kerk serving as a personal assistant to Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Junior, during the election campaign.
Kerk went up with Trump’s campaign and became a recognizable personality of the media, regularly appearing on television, where he knit the president’s praise and intervened in cultural wars.
His podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, regularly hosted honest guests on cultural issues.