Sept. 10 (UPI) — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Kirk, 31, initially was reported as being in critical condition after being removed by his security team while bleeding from his neck. But President Donald Trump announced he has died from his wounds. Other media has since reported the same.

“The great and legendary Charlie Kirk is dead,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

“No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States better than Charlie,” the president continued. “He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and now he is no longer with us.”

Trump expressed sympathy on behalf of himself and first lady Melania to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family.

University officials initially had said a suspect was in custody, but no suspect has been detained, NBC News reported in an update.

“Today at about 12:10 p.m. [local time] a shot was fired at the visiting speaker, Charlie Kirk,” University officials said in a statement released to media.

“He was hit and taken from the location by his security. Campus police is investigating, [and] a suspect is in custody.”

The reported suspect was not the alleged shooter and since has been released from custody.

The shooter was positioned on top of one of the university’s buildings and about 200 yards from where Kirk was speaking when he suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck, the BBC reported.

Kirk was a co-founder of Turning Point USA, which is a conservative non-profit that promotes conservative causes and viewpoints at colleges, universities and elsewhere and supports Trump.

Trump in an earlier Truth Social post called Kirk a “great guy from top to bottom” and concluded his post with, “God bless him!”

Kirk was a father of two and spoke during the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee shortly after a would-be assassin tried to shoot and kill Trump.

He was taken to Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital, which is located near the university.

Utah Valley University is located about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City and told students to shelter in place after the shooting occurred.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for more developments.