During a Thursday morning press conference, state and federal officials released new details about the search for Kirk’s killer.
WASHINGTON — Authorities on Thursday worked to identify a sniper who assassinated conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, with one bullet and then slipped away amid the mayhem.
During a Thursday morning press conference, state and federal officials said they now have good video footage of the suspect — who they described as appearing to be college-age and someone who “blended in” with the college population at Utah Valley University, where the fatal shooting took place in an open-air amphitheater.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said they’ve been able to track the suspect’s movement, with the individual arriving on campus around 11:52 a.m., going through stairwells and accessing the distant rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.
Mason said the suspect jumped off the roof and fled into a neighborhood amid the aftermath.
FBI officials released a photo of a person of interest on Thursday, seeking the public’s help to identify the person. In the photo, a person is seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with what appears to be an American flag, a dark hat, sunglasses and dark wash jeans.
A subject initially detained as a person of interest in the fatal shooting was released from custody, FBI Director Kash Patel said Wednesday evening.
Another man taken into custody immediately after Kirk, 31, was shot was eventually determined not to be the shooting suspect either, but was charged with obstructing justice, officials said.
Reward offered for info on killer
The FBI on Thursday said it would offer a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person, or persons, responsible for Kirk’s murder.
The reward was offered shortly after the first photos of the man were released to the public and officials have begun releasing details about the shooting.
Officials are asking anyone with information to submit their photos or videos to www.fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting or to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Who shot Charlie Kirk?
As the manhunt for Kirk’s killer stretched into a second day, authorities said they are working to identify the suspect from footage.
The suspected shooter’s identity is still unknown.
During Thursday’s press conference, authorities revealed they have recovered what they believe to be the suspect’s weapon. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the suspected shooter fled, the FBI said.
Utah authorities said the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away.
“We are actively looking for anyone and everyone who has any information related to the shooting,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said.
Videos posted to social media show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogan “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.”
A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching for his neck with his right hand. Stunned spectators can be heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.
A rash of political violence in the US
The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum.
The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April.
The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.
President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts in 2024, including one where a bullet whizzed by the then-candidate’s ear at a rally in Pennsylvania. That shooter was killed by a Secret Service sniper as Trump was moved to cover.
Another accused would-be-assassin was arrested by Secret Service agents near where Trump was golfing in Florida shortly after, before any shots were fired.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.