The manhunt continues for the assailant who shot and Charlie Kirk, a conservative American activist and ally of President Donald Trump, during a Thursday university event in the Western state of Utah, in an apparent targeted attack.
The Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI are leading the investigation alongside the Utah County Attorney’s Office, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, and local police departments.
The killing — another in a series of recent acts of US political violence — made headlines across news outlets.
CNN described the shooting as “a national tragedy in a polarized America,” calling the killing “a tragedy for all Americans, even those who disdained the charismatic clarion of young MAGA conservatives.”
The network said the bullet that killed Kirk was also “a chilling assault on free speech and democracy — the only bulwarks against a quickening descent into self-perpetuating political violence.”
Kirk, 30, was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon while addressing a crowd of thousands at the university’s outdoor quad in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. Security at the event included six university police officers and Kirk’s private security team.
Calling Kirk “legendary,” President Trump ordered US flags nationwide lowered to half-staff to honor him.
US authorities have revealed that Charlie Kirk was shot dead with a bolt-action rifle, which has been recovered from a wooded area nearby.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the ammunition engraved with transgender and anti-fascist ideology was found inside the rifle.
The unidentified shooter is believed to be of college-age, which helped him blend in with the students at the Utah Valley University. He arrived on campus at 11.52 am on Wednesday, less than 30 minutes before the shooting.
After the shooting, the assassin jumped off the roof and fled to a wooded area. The gun was found from this location.
FBI on Thursday released picture of ‘person of interest’ in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, seeking public’s help in identifying the suspect.
“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI Salt Lake City said in a post on X, attaching the pictures. Agency reports