Authorities launched new video of the individual of curiosity in conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s killing, exhibiting the suspected gunman climbing down from the roof of a constructing on the campus of Utah Valley College the place they imagine he fired the deadly shot and strolling away from the scene.
The video was performed throughout a information convention Thursday night with state and federal officers. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made a plea to the general public for suggestions to assist establish and find “this evil human.”
“We can’t do our job with out the general public’s assist proper now,” Cox mentioned.
He mentioned state officers are already shifting to pursue a dying penalty case if the case goes to trial.
The FBI said it’s providing a reward of as much as $100,000 for data resulting in the identification and arrest of the individual liable for Kirk’s homicide.
FBI Director Kash Patel appeared alongside the governor however didn’t handle reporters nor take questions.
Shortly earlier than the information convention, Utah authorities released new photos of the individual of curiosity within the taking pictures, through which the person could be seen on steps whereas carrying a black backpack and carrying a shirt with what gave the impression to be an American flag print on it.
The Utah Division of Public Security launched new pictures of the individual of curiosity within the deadly taking pictures of Charlie Kirk.
Utah Division of Public Security
The Utah Division of Public Security launched new pictures of the individual of curiosity within the deadly taking pictures of Charlie Kirk.
Utah Division of Public Security
The top of Utah Division of Public Security mentioned the suspect was carrying “distinct clothes” that would assist in figuring out the suspect, together with Converse sneakers.
He mentioned the individual seen within the video leaping from the roof left shoe impressions and a palm print.
Thus far authorities have acquired greater than 7,000 suggestions and leads and accomplished some 200 interviews, the governor mentioned.
Earlier Thursday, the FBI’s Salt Lake Metropolis workplace launched two preliminary pictures of the person, who’s carrying a baseball cap and sun shades and was captured in a stairwell in one in all them.
The FBI launched pictures of an individual of curiosity sought in reference to the lethal taking pictures of Charlie Kirk.
FBI Salt Lake Metropolis
The screenshots have been pulled from campus safety footage simply earlier than the taking pictures, in line with the Utah Division of Public Security.
‘Excessive-powered’ firearm recovered
Amid the manhunt for the suspect, who’s believed to be college-aged, officers mentioned Thursday they’re working “across the clock” to find the person.
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” was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the taking pictures came about, in line 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 regulation enforcement sources informed ABC Information. The situation 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 regulation enforcement officers described as “transgender and anti-fascist” writing, in line with preliminary data shared with companies. It is unclear what which means and authorities are nonetheless working to find out the that means or whether or not the markings have been meant as misdirection for investigators.
The gun and cartridges recovered are to be flown to the FBI’s essential laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for essentially the most technologically superior forensic evaluation, regulation enforcement sources informed ABC Information. The main focus is to search for any latent fingerprints and DNA, the sources mentioned. Upon completion of forensics, the firearm shall be disassembled for added importer data.
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 Photos
Monitoring the shooter’s actions
Officers mentioned 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 mentioned on Thursday. The video footage is not going to be launched to the general public right now, Mason mentioned.
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 happening, earlier than the suspect fired down at Kirk, Mason mentioned.
A drone view exhibits the reported location of the shooter on a rooftop, on 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
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.
After the taking pictures, the suspect traveled to the opposite aspect of the constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason mentioned. Officers are working by means of close by neighborhoods, contacting individuals with doorbell cameras and talking to 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.
Diagram of Utah Valley College campus space the place Charlie Kirk was shot
Google Earth, ABC Information
Officers emphasised the taking pictures was a “focused” assault and they’re “exhausting each lead.”
“We is not going to stand for what occurred yesterday,” Mason mentioned. “We’re investing all the things we’ve got into this and we’ll catch this particular person.”
Authorities are trying to find “any and all potential suspects associated to this incident,” the Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned Thursday afternoon.
“A number of leads are at present being investigated, however no suspect is in custody,” it mentioned.
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. Thus far, the Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned it has acquired greater than 200 suggestions, because the seek for the taking pictures suspect continues.
“I need to make it crystal clear proper now to whoever did this, we’ll discover you. We’ll attempt you, and we’ll maintain you accountable to the furthest extent of the regulation,” Cox mentioned throughout a press briefing Wednesday, calling the deadly taking pictures a “political assassination.”
Flowers sit subsequent to the Utah Valley College register a makeshift memorial for political activist Charlie Kirk, September 11, 2025 in Orem, Utah.
Michael Ciaglo/Getty Photos
Trump blames political rhetoric
Requested if he was involved that authorities haven’t but apprehended the suspect, now greater than 24 hours after the taking pictures, President Donald Trump informed reporters Thursday, “I hear they’re making huge progress, and we’ll need to see what occur.”
Pressed if he knew the shooter’s motivation, Trump mentioned he has “a sign, yeah, however we’ll let you recognize about that later.”
Within the wake of the taking pictures, Trump and distinguished MAGA personalities have sought to tie the killing to Democratic political rhetoric.
In a video posted to social media late Wednesday, Trump mentioned, “It is a 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 fantastic Individuals like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he added. “This sort of rhetoric is straight liable for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our nation in the present day, and it should cease proper now.”
He listed latest examples of political violence within the nation in opposition to Republicans, however didn’t point out any focusing on Democrats, such because the shootings of two Minnesota state lawmakers at their properties in June.
In his remarks with reporters on Thursday, the president mentioned he want to see his supporters reply with “nonviolence.”
Trump’s son Eric, in the meantime, informed Fox Information’ Sean Hannity he was “sick and uninterested in seeing the bullets — they’re solely going a technique.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox bought 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 USA — and now present president of the USA. 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 carry 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 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 unsuitable” desk, in line 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 taking pictures, Utah regulation enforcement sources informed ABC Information.
Greater than 3,000 individuals have been estimated to be on the occasion, in line with the college’s police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six cops, together with Kirk’s personal safety, in line with Lengthy.
UVU shall be closed till Sept. 14, in line with a discover posted on the college’s web site.
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
‘Unrelated’ individual arrested
The Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned Thursday that an “unrelated topic” was arrested on the college Thursday morning. The person entered the college grounds, entered a secured space and commenced to take images of the crime scene, it mentioned.
“When an agent ordered him to cease and tried to establish him, the male fled on foot however was quickly apprehended by different officers,” the division mentioned. “He has been booked into the Utah County Jail for felony obstruction and trespassing.
The division additionally mentioned in an replace Wednesday night time that two individuals 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 individual was taken into custody and launched after an “interrogation” by regulation enforcement, the division mentioned.
Utah authorities mentioned “there are not any present ties to the taking pictures with both of those people.”
White Home tributes to Kirk
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 announced he’ll posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying he was a “big of his era.”
“It is horrific. It is probably the most horrible issues I’ve ever seen,” Trump informed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl on Wednesday.
“He was an important man,” Trump mentioned. “He was a superb man. He was an unbelievable man. No person like him.”
Trump informed reporters Thursday that he had a “lengthy speak” with Kirk’s widow, Erika.
“She’s devastated. She’s completely devastated, as you possibly can think about,” he mentioned.
Vice President JD Vance and the second woman will meet with Kirk’s household and quite a lot of his shut mates in Salt Lake Metropolis on Thursday, a supply confirmed to ABC Information. Kirk’s casket, alongside together with his household and mates, will then be flown to Phoenix aboard Air Drive Two, the supply additionally confirmed.
Vance known as Kirk “a genuinely good man and a younger father” whereas urging prayers within the aftermath of the taking pictures on Wednesday.
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 Photos
Condemnation over the assault 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 mentioned. “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, 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 USA 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.
