Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, has been shot. The suspect is in custody, Utah Valley University said in a statement.According to Kirk's spokesperson, "Charlie Kirk has been shot at Utah Valley University. Condition unknown."Video posted from the event appeared to show Kirk being shot as he spoke to the crowd from under a white pop-up tent.After the shot, the crowd dispersed, with onlookers shouting "Run, run, run!"In a statement to Fox News, Ellen Treanor, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communication Management at Utah Valley University said that the shooting happened at about 12:20 p.m.WATCH:"We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group, Turning Point USA, who was speaking on campus today at noon," the statement said."At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker. To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel," Treanor said. "The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect and custody."In a campus-wide alert, Utah Valley University said that: "A single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker. Police are investigating now."The alert noted that the suspect is in custody. Their identity is unknown at this time.Utah Valley University noted that the campus is "closed until further notice.""Ongoing police investigation. If you are still on campus follow police direction."Kirk had been scheduled to appear at Utah Valley University on Wednesday as part of his American Comeback Tour, with another stop at Utah State University later this month. His appearances have drawn protests and petitions from student groups critical of his views.In a since-deleted post on Kirk's social media just hours before the attack, the conservative firebrand wrote: "WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour."President Trump wrote on social media: "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!"In a statement on X, Vice President J.D. Vance wrote: "Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father."Utah Senator Mike Lee posted to X shortly after news of the shooting broke, writing, "I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there."Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote: "Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKirk married former Miss Arizona USAErika Frantzvein May 2021. They have two children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.

Ryan Routh accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump when he was a major candidate in the 2024 election at his Florida golf club last year has chosen to represent himself in court, a decision one legal expert says could prove disastrous.Cully Simson, a former prosecutor, defense attorney and judge, told Fox News Digital that while the Constitution guarantees the right to self-representation, its "almost always a mistake.""It really makes no sense for somebody to defend themselves, especially in a serious case," he said. "They have the right to do it, but its not prudent."RYAN ROUTH TRIAL OPENS WITH BIZARRE JURY QUESTIONS AND WITNESS DRAMASelf-representation creates risks and an unusual courtroom dynamic where the judge and prosecutor "have to pull their punches" to protect the record, and essentially "protect the defendant from himself."A seasoned defense attorney knows how to put prosecutors to the test, forcing them to prove every element of the case and carefully laying the groundwork for potential appeals. When a defendant represents himself, Simson said, that kind of strategy is completely missing."And so what ends up happening is the judge and the prosecutor has to play, in a weird way, a defensive role, in addition to the role of the judge being a neutral and impartial arbiter of the law, and the prosecutor just be the person who advocates on behalf of the government. You have to essentially protect the defendant from himself, and that is so much more difficult," he said.RYAN ROUTH TRIAL: JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CASESimson said defense attorneys typically "push the envelope" and force the government to object, but when someone is representing themselves, lawyers hold back "because he's not going to be smart enough or educated enough to object."This can sometimes create an atmosphere where a "right to a fair trial" can become skewed and it's something law students study, too."That's that sophisticated point that law students talk about, and lawyers talk about. If you had a public defender or a private defense counsel who wasn't very good and made a number of mistakes during the trial, if the guy's convicted, one of the first things on appeal is you'll claim ineffective assistance of counsel," Simson said."You can't claim ineffective assistance of counsel when you represent yourself."When asked if there were any pros to self-representation in a federal trial, Simson said: " I guess one pro would be to conduct his defense exactly how he wanted to.""For example, in the Long Island shooter case, no criminal defense attorney was going to let that nut job act out in court and be the wacko he was," he said.TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SUSPECT RYAN ROUTH CAN REPRESENT HIMSELF AT TRIAL, FEDERAL JUDGE RULESAs in the notorious 1993 Long Island Rail Road case, convicted killer Colin Ferguson chose to represent himself and even took the witness stand to question his own victims.Routh has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Prosecutors say he was armed with an AK-style rifle when Secret Service agents stopped him near Trumps golf course in West Palm Beach in September 2024.The trial is expected to last several weeks, but Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon urged both sides to keep proceedings efficient.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPOpening statements are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11, if the panel is seated on time.

French police arrested hundreds of protesters Wednesday as "Block Everything" demonstrations erupted across the country, with crowds shutting down roads, lighting fires and clashing with authorities.The government's interior ministry announced 295 arrests in the first hours of what was a planned day of nationwide demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron, budget cuts and other complaints. Frances government suffered a major setback Monday when Prime Minister Franois Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote, forcing his resignation and replacement by Sbastien Lecornu."One Prime minister has just been ousted and straight away we get another from the right," student Baptiste Sagot, 21, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "They're trying to make working people, young students, retirees, all people in difficulty, bear all the effort instead of taxing wealth."Groups of protesters who repeatedly tried to block Paris' beltway during the morning rush hour were dispersed by police using tear gas. Elsewhere in the capital, protesters piled up trash cans and hurled objects at police officers. Firefighters were called to the downtown Chtelet neighborhood after a fire broke out in a restaurant, threatening to spread to an adjacent building.MACRON APPOINTS FOURTH PRIME MINISTER IN A YEAR AS DEBT BATTLE TOPPLES CENTRIST LEADERParisian police reported 183 arrests by mid-afternoon, with more than 100 other people taken into police custody elsewhere in France, according to the interior ministry count.Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said protesters torched a bus in thecity of Rennes, Reuters reported.Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.VIOLENT GEN Z PROTESTS SPIRAL WITH AT LEAST 19 KILLED IN NEPAL; VIDEO SHOWS PARLIAMENT BUILDING ABLAZEThe "Bloquons Tout," or "Block Everything," movement gathered momentum over the summer on social media and in encrypted chats, according to the AP. Its call for a day of blockades, strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of protest came as Bayrou was preparing plans to massively slash public spending by $51 billion to rein in France's growing deficit and trillions in debts. Macron had appointed Bayrou in December following a slew of resignations over the year when three other prime ministers left the top job. Multiple reports on Monday noted that by the end of the first quarter of 2025, Frances public debt equated to 114% of its GDP.Around 80,000 police were deployed across France on Wednesday to handle the protests, the AP reported.Fox News Digitals Caitlin McFall and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz gave his account of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk being shot at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday."I was up kind of on the second level because I wanted to be in the shade, but our daughter was there, son-in-law was there," Chaffetz recounted. "My wife was there. Friends. This is our community. You know, theres 2,000 or so people. Utah Valley University is our largest university, 40,000 students and people came out to hear the dialogue, the back-and-forth, ask him anything. Thats what Turning Point and Charlie Kirk is all about, ask him anything."He said that the first question at the event was about religion and went on for "about 15 to 20 minutes." The second question, the one right before Kirk was shot, Chaffetz noted, was about "transgender mass shooters."CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY EVENT TODAY"I happened to be watching Charlie. I cant say I saw blood. I cant say I saw him get shot, but as soon as that shot went out, he fell back and to his left and everybody hit the deck. A lot of people started screaming. And then everybody started running as you might expect. There was some police presence, but there was no security check going in. It didnt happen. Charlie has some security in front of him. But you got this sense that the shot came straight at him," Chaffetz said."I just hope and pray that somehow, some way he survives this," he added.Chaffetz described the event as largely peaceful prior to the shooting, saying that even protesters were "not disruptive and very respectful."Though still mostly "in shock" at what occurred, the former Utah representative wondered if politics was a factor in the shooting.DEMS, GOP LAWMAKERS JOIN FORCES TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK SHOT"Orem, Utah is one of the safest places on the planet, so we just dont have these types of things. We dont have murderers let alone shootings, let alone something of this magnitude and like I said, there was a light police presence. I am sure, I hope, there was some undercover people. Charlie has his own bit of security, but not to deal with a couple thousand people that were there to see Charlie," Chaffetz said.CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH EVENT, HOSPITALIZEDHe added, "I think when this story is written, I dont think it was a coincidence that the shot rang out when you have a question about transgender mass shootings. Hopefully I am wrong. I will probably get criticized for jumping to conclusions, but I am just telling you in the 30 minutes or so, I dont think that is a coincidence, but we will see."Chaffetz also complimented Kirk's organization and political efforts to reach out to the next generation."He is one of a kind. I really thought that years from now we would be saying president Charlie Kirk because for a generation, no one speaks to them like he does. He has built a coalition and is based on policy and argument. And its based on a belief and challenging people, and he was stimulating a younger generation who wasnt getting it in the classroom."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Lawmakers bridged the partisan divide on Wednesday after news that conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was killed from a gunshot wound.Prayers for Kirk's recovery on social media swiftly turned into condolences to his family and a widespread condemnation of political violence from both Republicans and Democrats."Its devastating news," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said. "The idea that political violence has taken one of the strongest voices on the conservative side is a great heartbreak. Charlie was a close friend of mine and a confidant, and he will be sorely missed, and we need every political leader to decry the violence and to do it loudly. The problem is in the human heart, and it's gotten out of hand.""This is beyond terrible," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said. "Charlie Kirk was a husband, father, and son. Violence is never the answer. Sydney and I are keeping the Kirk family in our prayers."President Donald Trump confirmed the news on Truth Social and said, "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie."Kirk was shot during an event on his "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The university initially said that a suspect was in custody but later announced that the person was released.Campus police on Wednesday afternoon asked students to call a hotline and be escorted off.Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, called Kirk "an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great.""This murder was a cowardly act ofviolence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation," he said."The terrorists will not win," he continued. "Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift."His death follows a wave of high-profile political assassination attempts in an increasingly polarized political environment.Trump survived two separate assassination attempts within weeks of each other while running for re-election in 2024. Meanwhile, a gunman in Minnesota shot and killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, while critically injuring another state lawmaker, this past June.This is a breaking news story and will be updated

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while kicking off the organization's fall tour of college campuses."The American Comeback Tour" was in the middle of its first event, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when Kirk suffered what turned out to be a deadly gunshot wound. It was supposed to be the first of 15 dates going from September 10 to October 29, spanning nine states with more events that were "to be announced soon," its website states.Kirk was taken to a hospital from campus, with President Donald Trump later posting on Truth Social that he had died. A source told Fox News that a suspect was still on the loose.CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTINGKirk was speaking from what was dubbed a "Prove Me Wrong" table when he was shot.Following the Utah Valley University speaking engagement, Kirk had been scheduled to appear next at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.The "nationwide campus tour aimed at equipping students with the tools to push back against leftwing indoctrination in academia and reclaim their right to free speech" held events earlier this year in Florida, Illinois, Texas and Wyoming, according to a press release."More than just a celebration of conservative momentum, this tour is a direct response to those trying to silence dissenting voices," the press release said.Tickets were available free of charge both for students and the general public on the tour's website.CHARLIE KIRK NAMES JD VANCE AS GUIDING LIGHT FOR YOUNG CONSERVATIVES, BUT SAYS GOP MUST DELIVER ON PROMISES"The American comeback is powerful and real, and its sweeping the nation," Kirk said in a February statement. "However, one of the last strongholds of far-left, increasingly insane and out-of-touch ideologues is found inside the formerly hallowed halls of higher education. We have many of these purveyors of anti-American indoctrination on the run, but when they regroup, they will do so from inside the academy. So we will take the fight to them."Kirk also had been slated to host a four-day annual "AmericaFest" conference in December in Phoenix, Ariz.

A generational leader in the conservative movement was lost on Wednesday, as Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a live event at a Utah university, the latest in a rash of political violence tearing America apart.For millions of Americans, especially the young, Kirk was an inspiration whose message of patriotism and self-reliance shone like a bright light in our cynical age of national self-hatred. But for millions of others, this made him a very dangerous threat.CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTINGWhen Kirk founded TPUSA, back in 2012, it wasnt supposed to be possible that a conservative could walk onto college campuses, those most high bastions of far leftism, and not just command a crowd, but create a movement.At that time, being a young conservative was almost an oxymoron. Yet, here was a walking, talking Alex P. Keaton with a rapier wit and a finger on the pulse of how so many college-age Americans really felt, how frustrated they really were. He was a happy warrior, who engaged those with whom he disagreed in good faith and decency.Just as Donald Trumps rallies would come to be a few years later, Kirks TPUSA events were a high-energy party for people who had so long felt ostracized, silenced, and cowed. The kid from Chicago put a swagger in their step.To the Left, and let's be honest here, for much of the Democrat Party and much of the mainstream media, Charlies success was unforgivable. They spent over a decade painting him as a racist, a bigot, and finally as an actual, real-life fascist.This is why Charlie Kirk is dead today.How many times, over and over, have rational people pleaded with the Left to stop with their dehumanizing rhetoric about conservatives? Promises were made to tone it down after Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, but it's only gotten worse.Just this week, The New York Times ran a column with blood-red imagery blaring, "Stop Acting Like This Is Normal," regarding the Trump administration. In other words, telling their readers that we are on the verge of fascism, if we arent already there, thanks to the likes of Trump and Kirk.What do these people expect to happen when they use their megaphone to tell their audience that people like Kirk are literally destroying the United States?The crazed and evil lunatic who committed this crime no doubt thought he was saving America, because that's what the lying, leftist news has fed him for a decade.Now, you can get ready for yet another round of Democrats and their feckless allies calling this a terrible tragedy and decrying political violence. But they seem unable to stop the vile rhetoric to which they seem addicted.The Left also knows this horrible murder will have a chilling effect. I have friends and loved ones who regularly appear at TPUSA events. Is it safe for them to do so going forward? Would I want them to, after this?Make no mistake, the strong conservative movement that Kirk founded is brave. It always has been, and they will stand up and speak the truth, even if they know that they too may have a target on them.But it shouldnt have to be this way.At this point, it is not sufficient for the liberal media to just change its ways or tone down the rhetoric. No, they must fully repent from the years they have spent demonizing half of the country and getting conservatives shot at.They must acknowledge that by painting those who simply disagree with them on political policy as inhuman monsters, they are tearing apart the fabric of the nation they claim to be protecting.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONIf they cant, then Americans need to shut them out, because, like a bully in an abusive relationship, the liberal media cannot be trusted.The first martyr of the Christian faith was St. Stephen, who was killed because he would not renounce the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, Charlie Kirk can be spoken of in the same breath, not just as an American martyr, but as a Christian one.We will never know how many troubled kids, who felt abandoned in the world of materialism and phones and never-ending genders, found their way to Jesus through Charlie KirK. But God knows, and it was truly Him at work, through his servant.If there is any solace for Kirks family, his friends, his movement, and his country, it is that he is now commended to the hands of the supreme Disposer of all events, for whom Charlie was a precious agent of good.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS

Charlie Kirk emerged as a powerful conservative leader in both culture and politics before his life was tragically cut short on Wednesday at the age of 31.Kirk, the founder of one of the most influential political organizations in the country, was shot while holding an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He later died of his wound, leaving the country reeling from another act of horrific political violence.Kirk grew up in the northern Chicago suburbs and got his start in politics while in high school as a volunteer for the 2010 campaign of former Republican Sen. Mark Kirk (no relation). In 2012, as a high school senior, he got national attention for warning about liberal bias in high school economics textbooks. He was outspoken about dropping out of college to pursue political activism.At just 18 years old, Kirk, along with Bill Montgomery, co-founded Turning Point USA, best known for promoting conservative causes on college campuses. In the 13 years since its founding, Turning Point USA has become one of the most prominent and influential conservative groups in the nation, holding several massive events throughout the year which have drawn big-name speakers, including President Donald Trump.CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH EVENTHis other organization, Turning Point Action, played a pivotal role in boosting Republican turnout across the country, most recently in Trump's 2024 election victory."No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"Kirk leaves behind a wife, Erika, and two young children.Kirk was one of the biggest names in digital media as host of "The Charlie Kirk Show." His social media footprint was massive, with more than 5 million followers on X, nearly 7 million followers on Instagram and more than 3.8 million subscribers on YouTube.Kirk is widely credited for energizing the conservative movement and helping the Republican Party appeal to young Americans. His unapologetic political and cultural commentary earned him fanfare among conservatives of all ages, but it also made him a subject of harsh criticism and derision.He embraced dialogue and open debate, welcoming students who opposed his views to ask him questions during his campus visits.As a Christian, he also spoke openly about his faith and its meaning in his life."Jesus is honestly the most important thing," Kirk said last month, while discussing NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson resharing his faith-based post.TRUMP RESPONDS TO CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING: WE MUST ALL PRAYHis iconic college campus visits were recently satirized on "South Park," which he called a "badge of honor." Kirk often attracted protests and ideological foes when he visited campuses, creating ready-made viral moments on social media."I think it's kind of funny and it kind of goes to show the cultural impact and the resonance that our movement has been able to achieve," Kirk told Fox News Digital in July."They're professional comedians. They're probably gonna roast me, and I think that's fine, and that's what it's all about, being in public life and, you know, making a difference, and I'm gonna have a good spirit about it. I'll watch it. I'm going to laugh at it," Kirk later continued."From a religious standpoint, we're all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. Like from a more practical life standpoint, we're all broken people. Stop taking yourself so seriously. That's probably one of the problems that we've had in our politics is that people can't take a joke."DEMS, GOP LAWMAKERS JOIN FORCES TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK SHOTKirk was also the inaugural guest on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's podcast earlier this year. Kirk and Newsom went viral after he pressed the prominent Democrat on the issue of transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Newsom conceded it was "deeply unfair."Newsom even pleaded with Kirk to offer his party advice."I immediately, no BS, thought about you, who's just 24/7 flooding the zone, owning this space every day, getting a convert every day, picking up one, two, 10,000 folks, continuing the momentum, coming out of this damn election," Newsom told Kirk. "What do you do? Seriously, Charlie Kirk, give us some advice."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKirk was speaking in front of thousands of students on the Utah Valley University campus when he was shot in the neck and rushed to the hospital. His death was met with an outpouring of grief online.Figures across the political spectrum mainly reacted with condemnations of the violence and prayers for Kirk and his young family after news of the shooting broke.

Utah authorities have not yet identified a suspect in the shooting of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk Wednesday afternoon.The 31-year-old father of two later died from his injuries.While a school spokeswoman initially said campus police had a suspect in custody, she later indicated he wasn't the gunman.The school had more than 46,000 students as of last fall. Campus authorities ordered a lockdown, have been escorting people to safety and are urging anyone still on school grounds to call them to be escorted to safety.CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING"To the best of my knowledge, that individual has been released," Ellen Treanor, the associate vice president of strategic communication management at Utah Valley University, told Fox News Digital. "Our campus police are currently investigating in conjunction with the Orem police."Orem authorities declined to confirm an active manhunt for the gunman but told Fox News Digital a shelter-in-place order was in effect.A single gunshot rang out around 12:20 p.m. local time, she said, about 20 minutes into a speech from Kirk on campus.Graphic video shows he was struck before panic ripples through the large crowd in attendance, with people screaming and running for cover.An event organizer told Fox News Digital that 1,400 people RVSP'ed for the event. The organizer said that many people came from out of the state to see Kirk speak.CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH EVENT"We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group, Turning Point USA, who was speaking on campus today at noon," Traenor said in a statement. "At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker. To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel."Authorities locked down the campus and canceled classes for the rest of the day. They told people on school grounds to shelter in place and said they were going door-to-door to escort people off campus. Roads in and out were closed."We ask for your patience throughout this process," the school said in a statement. "We are providing updates as best as possible. This is an ongoing and unfolding event."

After conservative Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called for the public to pray for the 31-year-old father of two and his family."We need your prayers for Charlie," Cox, a Republican, said Wednesday.Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said separately that his office is working to gather information on the attack."We are praying for his safety and the well-being of everyone impacted," Curtis said.CHARLIE KIRK CONFIDENT CONSERVATIVES ARE WINNING OVER YOUNG AMERICANS AFTER WATCHING DEMS' GEN Z SUMMIT"I am grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and first responders working to secure the campus."Curtis counterpart Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, added, "This is a good time to pray."House GOP Vice Chair Blake Moore, R-Utah, added that his office is also following the harrowing events."My team and I are tracking the tragic shooting at Utah Valley University and seeking more information as its made available," Moore said."We are praying for Charlie Kirk, his family, the students, and all those impacted."Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, called the situation "horrific," adding, "we will not tolerate this in Utah."The former New York Jet was echoed by Rep. Mike Kennedy, who represents the city of Orem where Utah Valley University sits.CHARLIE KIRK NAMES JD VANCE AS GUIDING LIGHT FOR YOUNG CONSERVATIVES, BUT SAYS GOP MUST DELIVER ON PROMISES"Im devastated to learn Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at UVU," Kennedy said in a statement."We condemn this senseless act of violence. Praying for Charlie and all those affected. My team and I are monitoring the situation for updates."Rep. Celeste Maloy, the Beehive States other remaining congresswoman, asked for prayers and said the situation does "not reflect who we are in Utah."On the East Coast, where two key gubernatorial elections will be held in just over a month, candidates on both sides spoke out against political violence and said Kirk and his family deserve the nations thoughts."Please keep Charlie Kirk in your prayers," said Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears."Hes a husband, a young father, and someone who cares deeply about our country. Praying for him and his family," said the retired Marine who is running for governor.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHer opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger said she and her husband Adam are praying for Kirks family."Political violence of any kind is unacceptable," the former Democratic congresswoman said.To the north, New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said there must be "zero tolerance for political violence and harsh punishment for the perpetrators of it.""Pray for Charlie Kirk and his young family," Ciattarelli said.Opponent Mikie Sherrill, currently a Democratic congresswoman, called the shooting "appalling.""Im praying for him and his family. Political violence is dangerous, un-American, and has no place in our democracy," she said."My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk, his loved ones, and the community at Utah Valley University. The perpetrator of this abhorrent act should be brought to justice," Sherill said on X.