RIP

4:56 PM PT -- Air Force Two has just landed in Arizona after a short flight from Utah ... with Vice President J.D. Vance helping bring Charlie Kirk's body and casket to his home state.

The casket was just unloaded from the plane upon landing in Phoenix.

Charlie's widow, Erika, was spotted walking down the stairs from the plane holding hands with Vance's wife, Second Lady Usha Vance.

The casket is now being transported through Phoenix in a white hearse, with a motorcade following behind.

Charlie Kirk's body is officially on its way to Arizona ... 'cause new photos show the conservative commentator's body being flown to his home state on Air Force Two.

Vice President J.D. Vance just took off from Utah after Charlie's body and casket were loaded onto the plane.

Charlie's casket was transported in a Cadillac hearse to an airfield where AF2 was waiting to take him to his home state.

Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz was in the crowd when conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah, and he says America can't let the tragedy stop folks with different views from voicing their opinions in a civilized manner.

Jason joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked him what Charlie's killing means for the future of America, and political events and gatherings held in public spaces ... like the campus tour Charlie was doing when he was shot dead.

Harvey and Jason go way back and have always had spirited and civil debates on a host of issues they disagree on ... and Jason says that's the spirit Charlie embodied, and it's something we can't lose sight of as a country.

Joe Rogan and Charlie Sheen learned about Charlie Kirk getting shot live on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast ... and you can see their raw reactions in a chilling video.

Check out the sobering clip -- the podcaster and TV personality is nearly speechless as his production team delivers the horrible news. Sheen, meanwhile, notes that this was a political assassination and that no one deserves to die for having a different view from someone else.

Once Joe is able to gather his thoughts, he denounces anyone celebrating the tragedy, reiterating that Charlie was a "pretty reasonable" guy who simply debated people across the U.S. He goes on to lament about the current political climate in the U.S., explaining that he believes people have fallen into a polarizing "trap."

Charlie Kirk's supporters have been paying tribute to him since he was shot to death on Wednesday ... and, a few of his close friends in Congress are trying to immortalize him on Capitol Hill forever.

12 Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ... which begins by laying out Wednesday's tragic events before highlighting all the good Kirk's done via Turning Point USA.

The letter calls out the political left for creating "a toxic environment where one side finds it acceptable to stoke fear and violence to silence civil dissent" ... then asks Speaker Johnson to direct that a statue of Kirk be placed in the United States Capitol.

Charlie Kirk's shooting almost didn't seem real at first to one attendee ... who was in line to ask the conservative commentator a question when he was shot through the neck.

We spoke with Robert Carpenter, who went to the event Wednesday specifically to debate Kirk. Robert's not a Utah Valley University student ... he does on-the-street interviews with people -- and likes to ask UVU attendees questions when he's in town.

Carpenter says he and his buddy gave a woman in line $40 to cut her ... and, they were around fifth or sixth in line to ask a question.

The FBI has recovered a "high-powered bolt-action rifle" near the campus of Utah Valley University following the shooting death of Charlie Kirk at his "The American Comeback" tour stop on Wednesday.

Robert Bohls, the FBI special agent in charge, revealed the news in a press conference Thursday morning, adding the weapon was located in a wooded area.

He also told media investigators have collected a palm imprint, a forearm imprint and a "footwear impression" belonging to the suspect -- a male -- that will be sent for analysis.

Pat McAfee is weighing in on Charlie Kirk's death ... saying politics aside, it's "startling, saddening and maddening" for someone to lose their life over their opinions.

The ESPN talent and host released a lengthy statement on Wednesday ... hours after the Turning Point USA founder was assassinated, while hosting an event at Utah Valley University.

"I've realized that I’m a bit naive to how crazy it all has become but watching a man get hunted and slayed in broad daylight because of his opinions made me disgusted and devastated," McAfee said.

Stephen Colbert opened "The Late Show" Wednesday with a somber note, paying respect to Charlie Kirk following his death and sending his condolences to his family and loved ones.

He also shared a sobering message with viewers, noting Wednesday's senseless shooting is reminiscent to the political violence he viewed in the 1960s.

He said ... "I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences. Political violence only leads to more political violence, and I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a madman and not a sign of things to come."

2:22 PM PT -- Turning Point USA tells TMZ ... "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gun shot that took place during Turning Point USA’s “The American Comeback Tour” campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10th, 2025.

May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving Savior who suffered and died for Charlie. We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers. We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity in this time."

Charlie Kirk -- the controversial conservative commentator -- has died after being shot in the neck on a college campus, Donald Trump announced on social media.

POTUS made the announcement on his site Truth Social Wednesday afternoon, claiming Kirk had died after sustaining injuries from a shooting at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, UT.

As you know ... Kirk was shot around 1 PM local time at a Q&A with students where hundreds of people, including some protesters, had gathered.

Law enforcement is still searching for the person who shot Charlie Kirk, and new video might show the shooter's vantage point, as well as their escape from the scene.

This clip is making the rounds on social media right now ... and, it begins right after the fatal shot was fired as the assembled masses at Utah Valley University in Orem watch Charlie go down.

In the far background of the video -- atop a campus building -- it appears a figure is running from the area.

The Utah Valley University men's soccer game scheduled for later Wednesday has been canceled ... after Charlie Kirk was shot on campus.

The school just announced the move ... explaining in a statement its tilt with UC Davis will not go forward "due to the active police situation" at the university.

The game "will not be made up," UVU officials announced.

Polly Holliday -- a veteran actress with roles in some of the biggest movies of the last few decades -- has died ... according to her longtime agent.

The star passed away Tuesday at her home in Manhattan, her agent and friend Dennis Aspland tells TMZ. He also told us Polly battled health issues for several years before dying of suspected pneumonia.

Holliday began her career on the screen in the mid-1970s ... grabbing parts in "All the President's Men" and "Distance" before she won a lead role on the hit sitcom "Alice."

Neil Summers, a longtime Hollywood stuntman and actor best known for playing The Rodent in the 1990 crime-action movie "Dick Tracy," is dead.

David Friedman, a close family friend, tells TMZ ... Neil died at his home in Kanab, Utah last Thursday surrounded by loved ones.

We're told Neil died from natural causes ... though there is no official cause of death at this point.

Hulk Hogan granted his daughter Brooke her wish to be removed from his will ... because she isn't gonna receive a penny of his almost $5 million in assets, according to new court documents.

The WWE legend's son Nick filed court documents Tuesday -- first obtained by Us Weekly -- which say Hulk left behind $200,000 in cryptocurrency, $799,000 in personal property and intellectual property, as well as his right to publicity, worth about $4 million.

Nick left blank the monetary amount for a possible medical malpractice lawsuit stemming from Hulk's alleged botched neck surgery in May, months before his death.

Warren G's fed up with young guns telling OG rappers their time is up, because according to his earnings, his classic, "Regulate," duet with Nate Dogg is played globally every damn day!

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to the G-Funk visionary about his upcoming hip hop moves when he revealed his newly acquired minor-league baseball team would be named "Regulators" ... and he never gets tired of hearing the track.

It was a clear black night and a clear white moon when Warren and the late Nate D-O-double-G recorded "Regulate" for Suge Knight's 1994 "Above The Rim" soundtrack.

Over 30 years and 2 platinum plaques later, Warren says he sees firsthand how the younger generations are still gravitating toward the record.

South Korean YouTube star Na Dong-hyun, also known as @BuzzBean11, has died ... this according to local news reports.

The internet personality, who boasted nearly 1.5 million subscribers on his account, was reportedly found dead in his home in Seoul on Saturday ... mere days after he participated in a 5-hour gaming livestream.

According to reports, including The Korea Herald, authorities were sent to Na's home in the morning on Saturday, after a friend said he was MIA for a pre-planned meeting and wasn't responding to their outreach attempts.