Manhunt for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s killer continues after he was deadly shot while talking at a political event at an Utah College Campus, according to the FBI.
FBI Director Kash Patel said of X that a previous “item” that was questioned since has been released.
“It has been released in custody after an interrogation of law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest in transparency,” Patel said.
Kaos unfolded at Utah Valley University in the north-central city of Orem on Wednesday afternoon, after Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Maga Youth Organization Turning Point USA, was deadly shot in the neck.
Kirk, a close ally by President Donald Trump, hosted a question and response event with students as part of his organization’s “American comeback tour”, which had just kicked off when a single shot was fired.
Trump said Kirk had died in a tribute to the truth social.
“The great and even legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” the president wrote. “No one understood or had the heart of youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by everyone, especially me, and now he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathy go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you!”
He later said in an oval office address that he was “filled with grief and anger.”
“Charlie inspired millions, and tonight everyone who knew him and loved him, united in shock and horror.”
Trump accused “Them on the Radical Left” of comparing “Wonderful Americans” as Kirk with “Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.”
“This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we see in our country today and it should stop right now.”
Graphic footage circulating on social media showed the moment Kirk was hit by the bullet that bleeding heavily before falling behind in his chair, in front of a horrified student audience.
Local, state and federal authorities launched a search for the suspect according to Orem Mayor David Young.
Here’s all we know about the shooting so far:
What we know about the suspect
The suspected identity has not yet been revealed. Currently after the shooting, the Orem Police, Utah Valley University Police, FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety completed an active manhunt.
Authorities swung on campus and the surrounding area after the shooting. Officers shed the neighborhood bordering the campus and walking door -to -door for information.
A law enforcement source told CNN that weapons have not yet been recovered.
American marshals were in standby to support Manhunt.
Beau Mason, Commissioner at the Utah Department of Public Safety, said at a press conference that the shot that killed Kirk came “potentially from a roof” at a long distance.
The shooter wore dark clothes and fired from “a little away,” he said.
Kirk was killed by a single shot in what is believed to be a targeted attack, said Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
“This is a political murder,” Cox said.
The Government Cox said the person responsible will be held responsible.
“I want to make it crystal clear for the person responsible … and we will keep you responsible to the full extent of the law,” Cox said.
“And I will remind you that we still have the death penalty here.”
“Our nation is broken, he added.” I don’t care what his policy is. I’m interested in being American. “
There was past confusion after a campus alarm reported that a suspect had been arrested, but this turned out to be another person who was not a shooter.
Campus remains closed and classes are canceled so far, the university said. Those still on campus were asked to stay in place until police officers can safely escort from campus.
The government Cox said he had spoken to the president on the phone and the Republican promised to bring the person responsible for justice.
“I just came from the phone with President Trump. Working with the FBI and Utah law enforcement, we will bring the person responsible for this tragedy,” Cox said in a post on X. “Abby and I’m Heart Brodt. We ask for Charlie’s wife, daughter and son.”
Who is Charlie Kirk?
Kirk was CEO and co -founder of the Conservative Youth Organization Turning Point USA, which is present in over 3,500 colleges and university campuses, with over 250,000 students nationwide, according to his website.
He formed the group in 2012 when he was 18 years old and emerged as an influential voice among Trump’s supporters with an audience on his social media channels and streaming the video work that reaches millions of supporters.
Kirk used his influence to campaign for Trump in the presidential election in 2024, and he spoke in the Republican national convention last summer.
His organization organized transport for supporters to protest in the presidential election in 2020 in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021.
Turing Point USA spokesman at the time Andrew Colved said Kirk never advocated violence.
“Charlie wants to save America with words, persuasion, courage and common sense,” said the Colvet, NBC News reported last year. “Left is desperate after conjunction with a Christian Boogeyman who simply does not exist. We tell churches: either get involved and have an opinion in the direction of your country, otherwise you will leave a void that someone else who does not share your values ​​will fill.”
Utah College Campus -Event was ‘greeted with a shared meaning’
Kirk hosted his organization’s “American comeback tour” when he was shot. Utah College Campus was the first stop on the trip that was set to stop on campuses across the country this fall.
The event had been met with divided statements on campus. An online petition calling on university administrators to prevent Kirk from performing, received nearly 1,000 signatures.
The University issued a statement last week with reference to the rights of first amendment and confirmed its “obligation to free utterance, intellectual examination and constructive dialogue.”
Political figures unite in condemning violence
Political figures from the right and left have united to condemn Wednesday’s violence.
Democratic California’s governor Gavin Newsom described the incident as “disgusting, disgusting and reprehensible.”
“In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in every form,” Newsom wrote about X.
Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting. “Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America,” Harris said. “I condemn this action and we all have to work together to make sure this does not lead to more violence.”
The Gop House speaker Mike Johnson said, “We are all asking to pray for him and his family … This is abominable what has happened. Political violence has become too common in American society and that is not who we are.”
Former President Barack Obama added: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of contemptuous violence has no place in our democracy.”
Maga tribute is pouring in
Members of the Trump family and other prominent Maga characters went to X to send their condolance to Kirk’s family and talked kindly about him, both in a professional and personal sense.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said Kirk was “like a little brother to me.”
“Rest in peace, brother. You will be missed more than words can ever say – but your heritage will never be forgotten and we will continue to fight for the good fight,” he wrote.
Eric Trump, the president’s second adult son, wrote: “Charlie Kirk was an incredible patriot – brave, hard like hell and a dear friend of our entire family.”
“In his honor, all @Trump properties will fly their flag at half staff,” he said.
Vice President JD Vance said: “If you actually see Charlie’s events – unlike the fake summary – they are one of the few places of open and honest dialogue between left and right. He would answer any question and talk to everyone.
“Charlie Kirk was a loving husband and father who inspired young people all over America to marry, have children, end abortion and live bravely for God,” wrote representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican in Georgia.
Chief of Staff for the White House, Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, said, “Out hearts are crushed.”
“America has lost one of its greatest masters. A loving family has lost the most extraordinary man and father. All of us now have to dedicate us to defeating the evil that stole Charlie from this world.”
This is an evolving story and will be updated.