Utah campus somber in wake of Charlie Kirk's killing: 'It doesn't feel real'

OREM, Utah – Panic and fear that broke out after Charlie Kirk was gunned down during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University became shock and grief as students on campus began to process the attack.

Hours after the Sept. 10 shooting and a campus lockdown, a huge bouquet had been placed near a prominent university sign as police carrying machine guns patrolled the university, and the community hunkered down.

"It doesn’t feel real, so it’s very shocking," university junior Lance Suaste told USA TODAY. "Nothing like this happens in Utah."

Suaste said that he was near where Kirk was speaking when the shooting happened and that he saw the panicked crowd running.

Tyler Knudsen, a sophomore who went to the event with friend Dario Perez, recalled the "hysteria" as people realized Kirk was shot.

"No one should die over something like this," Knudsen told USA TODAY, adding that he wanted to hear Kirk speak despite disagreeing with the conservative. "Whether you’re in support or not, it’s a tragedy."

Knudsen and Perez said they were surprised there was not more security at Kirk's event, given the controversial speaker and the size of the crowd. They said they’d bought tickets for the event, but when they arrived, there were no ticket takers or metal detectors.

Suaste said the shooting was terrible, but he wasn’t worried about the shooter still being at large and planned to spend the rest of the day in his dorm.

As the day came to a close, police vehicles continued to regulate traffic, and other police agency vehicles from the region lined curbs on the campus.

Contributing: Michael Loria, Amanda Lee Myers