By NBC Chicago Staff

Copyright nbcchicago

Right-wing activist and Chicago-area native Charlie Kirk has died after being shot while presenting at Utah Valley University Wednesday, President Trump confirmed on social media.

In a message on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said Kirk “is dead” following the shooting during a Turning Point USA event at the Utah school.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

The post came roughly an hour after Trump called for prayers for Kirk after he was shot while presenting at Utah Valley University.

Turning Point USA, the conservative activist group Kirk founded, confirmed Kirk was shot and was hospitalized, but did not confirm his death.

“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump said in a social media post on Truth Social.

A spokesperson for Utah Valley University said Kirk was about 20 minutes into a presentation when shots were fired from a nearby building.

Turning Point USA, the conservative activist group Kirk founded, confirmed Kirk was shot and was in the hospital, but no condition was provided.

“This is an on going situation. We can confirm that Charlie Kirk has been shot. He is in the hospital, and we are praying for him at this time,” the group said in a statement.

An alert from the school noted “a single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker.”

“Police are investigating now, suspect in custody,” the alert stated.

However, a spokesperson for the school later stated that a suspect was not in custody.

The school was ultimately closed and classes canceled “until further notice” as students were told to leave the premises “immediately.”

“We just saw, we heard a big, loud shot,” witness Justin Hickens told NBC News. “I saw a bunch of blood come out of Charlie. I saw his body … kind of everybody dropped to the ground. And luckily, there were no other bullets sprayed into the crowd, because nobody was really able to go anywhere. It was just like a big, you know, open pavilion, amphitheater, outdoor venue. And you know, lots of screaming, lots of yelling, you know, lots of bodies on top of each other.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said “those responsible will be held fully accountable.”

“I am being briefed by law enforcement following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk during his visit to Utah Valley University today,” Cox wrote on X. “We will continue to share updates. Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected.”

Kirk, a suburban Chicago native and supporter of President Donald Trump, is the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a conservative activist group that promoted his appearance at the university for a so-called “The American Comeback Tour.” He is a graduate of Wheeling High School and previously attended Harper College.