00:00Right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk, a major ally of U.S. President Donald
00:06Trump, was shot dead Wednesday in an apparent assassination.
00:11Trump confirmed on social media that Kirk, 31, had died from his injuries.
00:16According to AFP, Kirk was hit while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
00:22Video from the scene showed him addressing a large crowd when the sound of a single shot
00:27rang out.
00:28Kirk appeared to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and sounds of panic
00:32erupted in the audience.
00:35The university said the shooting happened around midday and initially said that a suspect
00:39was in custody, although multiple U.S. media reports later said that was not the case.
00:45Kirk had an outsized influence in U.S. politics, helping the rise of Trump's support among
00:49younger voters, one of the key factors in the Republicans' return to power last year.
00:53He uses enormous audiences on Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration
00:59policies, outspoken Christianity, and viral takedowns of hecklers at his many campus events.
01:05Donny Sharjareza, FMT.
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