FBI releases images of person of interest amid manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer

[ad_1] The FBI has launched photographs of an individual of curiosity sought in reference to the deadly taking pictures of Charlie Kirk, the founding father of the conservative youth activist group Turning Level USA, throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College on Wednesday.

"We're asking for the general public's assist figuring out this particular person of curiosity in reference to the deadly taking pictures of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley College," the FBI's Salt Lake Metropolis workplace mentioned on X whereas sharing two photographs of the person, who's sporting a baseball cap and sun shades and was captured in a stairwell in certainly one of them.

The manhunt for the suspect, who's believed to be college-aged, continues, with officers working "across the clock" to find the person, officers mentioned throughout a press convention on Thursday.

The FBI launched photographs of an individual of curiosity sought in reference to the lethal taking pictures of Charlie Kirk.

FBI Salt Lake Metropolis

The FBI additionally mentioned Thursday it has recovered what's believed to be the weapon used within the lethal taking pictures. A "high-powered bolt motion rifle,” which officers consider was the weapon used within the taking pictures, was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the taking pictures happened, in accordance with Salt Lake Metropolis FBI Particular Agent Robert Bohls.

The rifle is an older mannequin imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt motion rifle wrapped in a towel, a number of legislation enforcement sources instructed ABC Information. The placement of the firearm seems to match the suspect's route of journey, the sources mentioned.

The spent cartridge was nonetheless chambered and three unspent cartridges contained wording on them expressing what some legislation enforcement officers described as “transgender and anti-fascist ideology,” in accordance with preliminary data shared with companies. It’s unclear what which means and authorities are nonetheless working to find out the that means.

The firearm and ammunition have been taken by the FBI for DNA evaluation and fingerprint impressions. Upon completion of forensics, the firearm shall be disassembled for extra importer data.

Monitoring the shooter's actions Officers mentioned they've been in a position to monitor the actions of the shooter and have "good" video footage of the person, Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason mentioned on Thursday. The video footage won't be launched to the general public presently, Mason mentioned.

At 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect arrived on the Orem campus after which proceeded to journey by way of the stairwells as much as the roof of a constructing close to the the place the outside occasion was going down, earlier than the suspect fired down at Kirk, Mason mentioned.

Kirk was hit by a single shot at roughly 12:20 p.m. and brought to a hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless, authorities mentioned.

This display screen seize from a video by Amy King reveals right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk talking throughout a public occasion at Utah Valley College minutes earlier than he was shot in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025.

Amy King/UGC by way of AFP by way of Getty Photos

After the taking pictures, the suspect traveled to the opposite facet of constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason mentioned. Officers are working by way of close by neighborhoods, contacting folks with doorbell cameras and chatting with witnesses to establish any leads, Mason mentioned.

Together with recovering the weapon, Bohls mentioned investigators have additionally collected a footwear impression, palm print and forearm imprints for evaluation.

Officers emphasised the taking pictures was a "focused" assault and they're "exhausting each lead."

"We won't stand for what occurred yesterday," Mason mentioned. "We're investing all the pieces now we have into this and we'll catch this particular person."

The FBI requested for suggestions from the general public because the manhunt for the perpetrator continues, urging anybody with data, images or video from the incident to share it with investigators.

Flowers sit subsequent to the Utah Valley College check in a makeshift memorial for political activist Charlie Kirk, September 11, 2025 in Orem, Utah.

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Photos

Trump blames political rhetoric Because the seek for the suspect continued, President Donald Trump and outstanding MAGA personalities sought to tie the killing to Democratic political rhetoric.

In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Trump mentioned, "It is a long gone time for all Individuals and the media to confront the truth that violence and homicide are the tragic consequence of demonizing these with whom you disagree."

"For years, these on the unconventional Left have in contrast great Individuals like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals," he added. "This sort of rhetoric is immediately accountable for the terrorism that we're seeing in our nation right now, and it should cease proper now."

Trump's son Eric, in the meantime, instructed Fox Information' Sean Hannity he was "sick and uninterested in seeing the bullets -- they're solely going a technique."

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox received emotional Wednesday as he delivered a message mentioning latest assaults on each Democrats and Republicans.

"Our nation is damaged," Cox mentioned. "We have had political assassinations just lately in Minnesota. We had an tried assassination on the governor of Pennsylvania. And we had an tried assassination on a presidential candidate and former president of the US -- and now present president of the US. Nothing I say can unite us as a rustic. Nothing I can say proper now can repair what's damaged. Nothing I can say can deliver again Charlie Kirk. Our hearts are damaged."

Controversial campus go to Kirk -- a 31-year-old father of two -- was thought of a confidant of Trump and extremely influential within the conservative youth motion.

He based the conservative advocacy group Turning Level USA in 2012 on the age of 18, and within the 2024 elections was credited with constructing important help for Trump amongst younger voters.

A drone view reveals the scene the place U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College, in Orem, Utah, September 11, 2025.

Cheney Orr/Reuters

The Utah occasion was anticipated to incorporate a "show me fallacious" desk, in accordance with the tour's web site.

Forward of the conservative political activist's go to to Utah Valley College, some college students began an internet petition asking college directors to cease him from coming.

Although Kirk's go to was controversial on campus, police have been monitoring no particular or credible threats earlier than the deadly taking pictures, Utah legislation enforcement sources instructed ABC Information.

Greater than 3,000 folks have been estimated to be on the occasion, in accordance with the college's police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six cops, together with Kirk's personal safety, in accordance with Lengthy.

UVU shall be closed till Sept. 14, in accordance with a discover posted on the college’s web site.

One suspect sought On this Dec. 22, 2024, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk speaks on stage at America Fest 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Josh Edelson/AFP by way of Getty Photos

There is no such thing as a proof that anybody else was concerned, in accordance with authorities.

The Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned in an replace Wednesday evening that two folks have been initially taken into custody after the taking pictures however later launched.

The primary was launched and later charged with obstruction by college police. The second particular person was taken into custody and launched after an "interrogation" by legislation enforcement, the division mentioned.

Utah authorities mentioned "there aren't any present ties to the taking pictures with both of those people."

Tributes from each events Trump was amongst those that paid tribute to Kirk.

"The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is lifeless," Trump mentioned on social media. "Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the US of America higher than Charlie. He was cherished and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he's now not with us. Melania and my Sympathies exit to his lovely spouse Erika, and household. Charlie, we love you!"

"It is horrific. It is one of the vital horrible issues I've ever seen," Trump instructed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

"He was a fantastic man," Trump mentioned. "He was a great man. He was an unbelievable man. No one like him."

Trump ordered all American flags all through the nation to be lowered to half-staff by way of Sunday night in Kirk's honor. On Thursday, he additionally introduced he'll posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying he was a "big of his era."

Cox known as the deadly taking pictures a "political assassination."

"These accountable shall be held totally accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Individuals of each political persuasion should unite in condemning this act," he mentioned on X following the assault.

<img alt="PHOTO: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, speaks at the Keller Building on the Utah Valley University campus after Charlie Kirk was shot and died during Turning Point's visit to the university, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. " class="hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI " data-testid="prism-image" draggable="false" loading="lazy" src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/5f314601-752d-4270-9bdc-97ec6d5c4913/kirk-presser-ap-jt-250910_1757545592999_hpMain_4x3.jpg"/> Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, speaks with Utah Valley College Chief of Police Jeff Lengthy, proper, on the Keller Constructing on the Utah Valley College campus after Charlie Kirk was shot and died throughout Turning Level's go to to the college, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.

Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

Vice President JD Vance known as Kirk "a genuinely good man and a younger father" whereas urging prayers within the aftermath of the taking pictures.

Condemnation got here from each side of the political spectrum.

"There is no such thing as a place in our nation for this sort of violence. It should finish now," Former President Joe Biden mentioned. "Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's household and family members."

"The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising sort of unconscionable violence can't be allowed in our society," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, mentioned on X.

Fellow Democratic governor, California's Gavin Newsom, mentioned on X that the "assault on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the US of America, we should reject political violence in EVERY kind."

ABC Information' Aaron Katersky, Luke Barr, Josh Margolin, Ivan Pereira, Lalee Ibssa, Isabella Murray, Katherine Faulders, Jack Date, Chris Looft and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.