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Right-wing political commentator and a key aide of President Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Trump confirmed his death in a social media post and ordered that all American flags throughout the country be lowered to half-mast.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” The President wrote on Truth Social.

“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!”

Kirk (31) was shot in the neck when he was responding to a student’s question about mass shootings during the university event, reported the New York Times.

There were about 3,000 people gathered at the event. Video footage from the scene showed students fleeing after hearing gunshots.

The investigators are still searching for the gunman, and no arrest has been made so far.

Multiple agencies, including the Orem Police Department, Utah Valley University Police, the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety, are involved in the probe.

FBI Director Kash Patel said an unnamed “subject” had been detained for questioning and then released.

“Our investigation continues, and we will continue to release information in the interest of transparency,” he wrote on social media.

Kirk’s death comes amid a surge in political violence in America. In the first six months of the year, the US experienced about 150 politically-motivated attacks nearly twice as many as over the same period last year, according to Mike Jensen, a researcher at the University of Maryland.

“I think we are in a very, very dangerous spot right now that could quite easily escalate into more widespread civil unrest if we don’t get a hold of it,” Jensen told Reuters news agency.