A college campus, a fiery speaker - then a single gunshot

US President Donald Trump has described the killing of his influential ally Charlie Kirk as a 'dark moment for America'. Gene Johnson and Hannah Schoenbaum, of the Associated Press, report on how the shooting unfolded

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Just weeks into the fall semester, a crowd gathered around a white canopy on a grassy college courtyard. They were eager to hear what the speaker beneath it had to say. It was a typical university scene, with its promise of the exchange of ideas and debate, except in one way: its size.

This speaker was Charlie Kirk, one of the most influential voices in President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, and the event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday drew more than 3,000 people. Backpack-toting students watched from surrounding buildings as Kirk, wearing a white T-shirt that said "Freedom", tossed red MAGA caps, Frisbee-style, to his fans.

He took his place beneath the canopy, the slogans "The American Comeback" and "Prove Me Wrong' emblazoned across it. He picked up a handheld microphone and he began to address the audience.

As he answered a question about gun violence, a single shot cracked.

Kirk, 31, a podcaster, founded the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA. He embraced notions of Christian nationalism and often made provocative statements about gender, race, religion and politics.

He had insisted it was worth it to have "some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights".

Often he brought those ideas on to college campuses, where they were especially controversial. Kirk was known for openly debating progressives and challenging audiences to stump him on political points.

His campus appearances often drew protests, and Wednesday's was no different. Online petitions signed by thousands of people had called for his talk at Utah Valley University, as well as another, scheduled for September 30 at Utah State University, to be cancelled.

"As students at Utah Valley University, we have come to cherish an environment that strives for inclusivity and diversity," one said.