The FBI has launched photographs of an individual of curiosity sought in reference to the deadly capturing 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 individual of curiosity in reference to the deadly capturing of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley College,” the FBI’s Salt Lake Metropolis workplace stated on X whereas sharing two photographs of the person, who’s carrying a cap and sun shades and was captured in a stairwell in considered 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 stated throughout a press convention on Thursday.
The FBI launched photographs of an individual of curiosity sought in reference to the lethal capturing of Charlie Kirk.
FBI Salt Lake Metropolis
The FBI additionally stated Thursday it has recovered what’s believed to be the weapon used within the lethal capturing. A “high-powered bolt motion rifle,” which officers consider was the weapon used within the capturing, was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the capturing passed off, 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 advised ABC Information. The placement of the firearm seems to match the suspect’s route of journey, the sources stated.
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 info shared with businesses. It’s unclear what which means and authorities are nonetheless working to find out the which means.
The firearm and ammunition have been taken by the FBI for DNA evaluation and fingerprint impressions. Upon completion of forensics, the firearm can be disassembled for added importer info.
Monitoring the shooter’s actions
Officers stated they’ve been in a position to observe the actions of the shooter and have “good” video footage of the person, Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason stated on Thursday. The video footage is not going to be launched to the general public right now, Mason stated.
At 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect arrived on the Orem campus after which proceeded to journey by means 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 stated.
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 stated.
This display screen seize from a video by Amy King exhibits 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 through AFP through Getty Photographs
After the capturing, the suspect traveled to the opposite facet of constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason stated. Officers are working by means of close by neighborhoods, contacting individuals with doorbell cameras and chatting with witnesses to establish any leads, Mason stated.
Together with recovering the weapon, Bohls stated investigators have additionally collected a footwear impression, palm print and forearm imprints for evaluation.
Officers emphasised the capturing was a “focused” assault and they’re “exhausting each lead.”
“We is not going to stand for what occurred yesterday,” Mason stated. “We’re investing the whole lot we’ve got into this and we are going to catch this particular person.”
The FBI requested for suggestions from the general public because the manhunt for the perpetrator continues, urging anybody with info, photographs 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 Photographs
Trump blames political rhetoric
Because the seek for the suspect continued, President Donald Trump and distinguished MAGA personalities sought to tie the killing to Democratic political rhetoric.
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Trump stated, “It is a long gone time for all People 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 novel Left have in contrast fantastic People like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he added. “This sort of rhetoric is immediately chargeable for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our nation at present, and it should cease proper now.”
Trump’s son Eric, in the meantime, advised 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 stated. “We have had political assassinations not too long ago 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 convey again Charlie Kirk. Our hearts are damaged.”
Controversial campus go to
Kirk — a 31-year-old father of two — was thought-about 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 assist for Trump amongst younger voters.
A drone view exhibits 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 a web based 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 capturing, Utah legislation enforcement sources advised ABC Information.
Greater than 3,000 individuals have been estimated to be on the occasion, in accordance with the college’s police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six law enforcement officials, together with Kirk’s personal safety, in accordance with Lengthy.
UVU can 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 through Getty Photographs
There isn’t any proof that anybody else was concerned, in accordance with authorities.
The Utah Division of Public of Security stated in an replace Wednesday evening that two individuals have been initially taken into custody after the capturing however later launched.
The primary was launched and later charged with obstruction by college police. The second individual was taken into custody and launched after an “interrogation” by legislation enforcement, the division stated.
Utah authorities stated “there are not any present ties to the capturing 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 stated on social media. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the US of America higher than Charlie. He was beloved 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 crucial horrible issues I’ve ever seen,” Trump advised ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
“He was a fantastic man,” Trump stated. “He was an excellent man. He was an unimaginable man. No one like him.”
Trump ordered all American flags all through the nation to be lowered to half-staff by means 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 referred to as the deadly capturing a “political assassination.”
“These accountable can be held absolutely accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. People of each political persuasion should unite in condemning this act,” he stated on X following the assault.
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 referred to as Kirk “a genuinely good man and a younger father” whereas urging prayers within the aftermath of the capturing.
Condemnation got here from either side of the political spectrum.
“There isn’t any place in our nation for this sort of violence. It should finish now,” Former President Joe Biden stated. “Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s household and family members.”
“The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising kind of unconscionable violence can’t be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated on X.
Fellow Democratic governor, California’s Gavin Newsom, stated 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 type.”
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.
