Charlie Kirk’s Final Post Published Just Hours Before His Death

Hours before his death, Charlie Kirk took to Instagram and shared a cryptic post. The image appeared to be a surveillance shot showing a frightened woman sitting on the subway. The woman seemed to be reacting to someone standing over her—an individual she was allegedly murdered by.

Kirk captioned the post ominously, writing, “America will never be the same.” The post, which carried an air of foreboding, was uploaded just before his death on September 10, 2025.

The political activist also shared two videos on his Instagram Story in the hours leading up to his passing. The first video showed him speaking from inside a car. In the clip, he discussed Iryna Zarutska‘s tragic August 2025 murder on a Charlotte light rail subway, attributing the crime to someone with multiple prior convictions.

It appears Kirk was linking Zarutska’s murder to the surveillance image of the woman on the subway. The second video showed Kirk dressed in a suit, addressing an audience while holding a microphone. In this reel, he spoke about “What it means to be a nation.”

Instagram users reacted to his cryptic last post with a range of emotions. One person wrote, “It’s crazy how he posted this before his death.” Another added, “First her, now you?? is this real?? [sic]” Responding to Kirk’s caption, a fan commented, “he [sic] was right, it will never be.”

A heartbroken netizen said, “Little did he know he passed away a couple hours later ❤️❤️😩😩😭PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ❤️❤️.” Another fan wrote, “Crazy how the last stories he posted are still up, less than 24 hours ago he was talking about someone’s murder, not knowing he would be the next 😢.”

Kirk’s final moments online have stirred widespread attention, leaving a digital imprint that continues to spark discussion. Whether coincidence or intention, the timing of his last post has only deepened the sense of mystery surrounding his death.

Since his passing, an investigation is underway. Some information that has been revealed so far is that the attacker’s precision may hinder investigators, according to one law enforcement expert.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU), prompting an investigation, eyewitness reports, and reactions from political leaders.

The violence erupted during Kirk’s midday appearance, organized by the university’s student chapter of TPUSA. Witnesses said they heard a single gunshot from a nearby building before security rushed him away and campus police cleared the courtyard. Kirk was the only person reported injured.

A UVU spokesperson later recounted the details, “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 university representative continued, “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. The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect in custody.”

While the university sought to reassure the community, TPUSA confirmed Kirk’s condition. “This is an ongoing situation,” said spokesperson Aubrey Laitsch. “We can confirm that Charlie Kirk has been shot. He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time.”

By late afternoon, hopes were dashed. The organization announced Kirk’s death to their employees and supporters in a note, also shared with CNN, “It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven.”

Attention soon turned to the investigation. Shortly after Kirk’s tragic death, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said on X that the person initially detained in connection with the shooting had been questioned and released.

He also emphasized that the inquiry remains active and promised to provide continued updates in the interest of transparency.

With no suspect in custody, a wider manhunt began — but an expert warned it would be difficult. CNN’s Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said the attacker likely planned to move silently, remain unseen, fire a single shot, complete the mission, take the weapon, and leave little evidence behind.

The TV network’s analyst also noted that the precision of the single shot suggested the attacker had prior firearms experience.

“This is someone who knew exactly what they were doing and is probably known to others, and this may be working to the advantage of law enforcement. As someone who has a long history in shooting, this wasn’t an amateur,” he explained.

Eyewitness accounts underscored the sense of shock. Jeremy King, 45, who stood about 15 feet from Kirk, said he was initially confused at the time, believing the gunshot might have been “part of an act or performance” tied to the discussion about gun rights and the LGBTQ+ community.

King’s confusion turned to panic as Kirk collapsed. “Everyone around me dropped to the ground. I immediately stood over my wife. You don’t know if this is a single shot or if it’s going to turn into a mass shooting. And so you’re scanning,” he recalled.

He later saw Kirk’s bodyguards react swiftly, adding, “At that moment, I did grab my phone and start recording as they moved him to the SUV and loaded him up.”

As the reality of Kirk’s death set in, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. In an address, U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as a national tragedy.

“I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” he said. He also described Kirk as a “martyr” and called the incident a “dark moment” in American history.

Meanwhile, the country’s Vice President JD Vance mourned Kirk’s death and echoed Trump’s message by reposting it on X, amplifying the president’s praise of Kirk as a “legendary” figure who deeply influenced young Americans.

Trump’s post also included condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family. Vance followed with a brief prayer for Kirk’s peaceful eternal rest.

Earlier in the day, Trump had issued a formal proclamation ordering that all U.S. flags be flown at half-staff through September 14. The order applies to the White House, federal buildings, military installations, and U.S. embassies worldwide.

Charlie Kirk‘s death came just two weeks after the Minneapolis church shooting. What began as a peaceful student Mass on August 27 ended in terror when a lone gunman opened fire through the church windows, leaving the community shaken and grieving.

Authorities identified the shooter, who left a trail of disturbing online content and a handwritten manifesto that revealed years of inner turmoil.

Shooting Shatters Sacred Service

The congregation had gathered at Annunciation Church when gunfire erupted — tearing through stained glass windows and shattering the sanctuary’s peace. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the attacker “began firing a rifle through church windows.”

O’Hara added, “The shooter fired towards the children sitting in the pews at the Mass.” He stated that a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol were all fired during the assault.

The City of Minneapolis issued a public alert and urged residents to avoid the area. First responders arrived swiftly, but the toll was already devastating: two children, ages 8 and 10, had been killed. Meanwhile, 17 others were wounded, 14 of them children. Two remained in critical condition.

A Troubled Suspect with a Dark Trail

Authorities named the shooter as Robin Westman, a local resident in her early 20s. O’Hara said Westman was believed to be dead. According to KSTP, Westman legally changed her name from Robert in 2020 and reportedly identified as a woman.

Westman had no extensive criminal history, but a now-deleted YouTube channel showed videos with firearms, anti-religious symbols, white supremacist imagery, and racial slurs.

Also recovered was a handwritten, four-page manifesto, which documented years of mental deterioration, hopelessness, and emotional isolation.

Westman opened with an admission that forgiveness was unlikely and any apology would ring hollow. Even so, she directed a remorseful note to her family and those closest to her, acknowledging the damage her actions would inflict on their lives.

Westman further wrote, “I have wanted this for so long. I am not well. I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by these thoughts that do not go away. I know this is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

Eyewitness Recounts Horror as Parents Describe Panic

Among the terrified children inside was fifth-grader Weston Halse, who later recounted the chaos. According to KSTP, he quickly hid under a pew as the gunfire erupted and then noticed specks of gunpowder dusting his neck.

“My friend Victor, like, saved me though ’cause he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” he shared in a separate CBS interview.

Halse and other students were ushered into the gym, where the doors were locked to keep the shooter out. He was later reunited with his mother.

He explained how he felt when he saw his mom, “I was super happy because I was scared that I wasn’t gonna see her ’cause I didn’t know what was happening, really. I was just in shock. It was like right beside me. I was like two seats away from the stained glass windows. So they were like, the shots were like right next to me.”

Regarding his friend’s condition, Halse admitted he was “super scared for him,” but felt relieved when he learned his friend had been taken to the hospital and believed he was okay.

Carla Maldonado, a parent whose two children survived, described the panic she and her husband, Pedro, felt when they arrived at the church. Her husband shouted for their children in fear before they found their 7-year-old daughter in the parking lot. Their 11-year-old son had been hiding in the basement.

“I have such mixed feelings right now, so many of them,” Maldonado shared. “But I am just incredibly grateful that this school did and had been preparing and also just incredibly sad and angry that this has to be a thing in any school.”

She said school shootings had become so common, they felt “like a broken record.” Maldonado added that many parents shared the same fear and frustration, and emphasized that even one life lost was too many.

The US President Calls for Prayer as Flags Lowered

Trump addressed the tragedy on Truth Social, “I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”

He ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on August 31 in memory of the victims, including at the White House, federal buildings, military posts, and naval installations.