Prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Utah. President Trump announced on Thursday morning that Kirk, 31, would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour. Trump had previously expressed grief on social media, calling Kirk "great, and even legendary,” described him as a “martyr for truth and freedom,” attributing the climate to the “radical left”.

Kirk was addressing hundreds of students at his “Prove Me Wrong” debating table, part of his "American Comeback Tour," when he was struck by a single shot from a rooftop. Footage shows Kirk clutching his neck and collapsing, prompting chaos as attendees, including his wife and children, fled for safety.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recovered a 'high-powered bolt action' rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, from a wooded area. The rifle and ammunition were reportedly engraved with transgender and antifascist ideology. Authorities are actively searching for the unidentified shooter, who appears to be of college age and fled the scene. The FBI possesses video footage of the suspect and has collected forensic evidence, expressing confidence in identification, though two initially detained individuals were released.