The nation is in shock tonight after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent American conservative leader who was killed while speaking to young people at Utah Valley University. Among the thousands in attendance was Jason Chaffetz, former Utah Congressman and Fox News contributor, who witnessed the horrifying events firsthand.
Chaffetz described the atmosphere just moments before the shooting:
“There were over 2,000 people there, eager to hear Charlie Kirk speak and take questions from anyone. At noon, Charlie came out tossing hats to the crowd. The energy was electric, with chants of ‘U.S.A.!’ and ‘Charlie Kirk!’ filling the venue. I’d estimate that 95% of the crowd was under 30—they were there for real dialogue.”
In the crowd, Chaffetz noticed a group holding a transgender flag on the second level. “Charlie saw them and, instead of ignoring or confronting them, he invited them to join the conversation. The crowd cheered. The first person to ask a question challenged Charlie on religion. He responded with grace, saying, ‘I’m not here to bash anyone. I’m on my spiritual journey, and I want you to have yours.’”
But the dialogue was abruptly shattered. “The second person stepped up and began asking about transgender shooters and mass shootings,” Chaffetz recalled. “Before they could finish, a gunshot rang out.”
In an instant, chaos erupted. “I saw Charlie fall back to his left. The crowd hit the ground, screams echoed, and people started running. It was horrific—devastating. Every emotion rushed through me: sadness, anger, and a deep desire to know who did this. There is true evil that needs to be rooted out.”
Chaffetz reflected on the impact Kirk had on young people, including his own children. “My kids, like so many others, were excited to meet Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump. Charlie was an icon for this generation.”
When asked about security at the event, Chaffetz was candid. “Security was minimal. There were a couple of uniformed police officers and a handful of Charlie’s personal security detail, but with thousands of people in an open campus setting, it was impossible to guarantee safety. This is Utah—these things aren’t supposed to happen here.”
He expressed concern for the future of free speech and open dialogue on college campuses. “I worry that the days of true dialogue are being shut down. That’s what the radical left wants—they want to silence powerful voices like Charlie’s. Universities may see this as a liability risk and stop inviting speakers altogether, depriving students of real engagement.”
The moment of the shooting remains etched in Chaffetz’s memory. “When I saw Charlie fall, I knew he was gone. Others there said the same. It was a close shot, possibly from a rooftop, but law enforcement is still piecing together the details. There was no real security, and unfortunately, that’s the world we live in now.”
Chaffetz concluded with a somber reflection: “This is true evil that must be rooted out.”
