Nothing I can say can bring back Charlie Kirk.
Though Kirk’s visit was controversial on campus, police were tracking no specific or credible threats before the fatal shooting, Utah law enforcement sources told ABC News.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump said on social media.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov.
Fellow Democratic governor, California’s Gavin Newsom, said on X that the “attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.
In relation to the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist group Turning Point USA, at a gathering at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, the FBI has made public pictures of a person of interest wanted.
The FBI’s Salt Lake City office posted two pictures of the person on X along with the statement, “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.”.
During a press conference on Thursday, officials stated that they are working “around the clock” to find the suspect, who is thought to be college-aged. The manhunt is still ongoing.
Additionally, the FBI announced on Thursday that it had found what is thought to have been the gun used in the fatal shooting. According to Salt Lake City FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls, a “high-powered bolt action rifle,” which authorities believe was the weapon used in the shooting, was found in a wooded area close to the scene.
Commissioner Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety stated on Thursday that authorities have “good” video footage of the shooter and have been able to follow his movements. According to Mason, the video footage will not be made public just yet.
at 11:52 a.m. A. According to Mason, the suspect entered the Orem campus on Wednesday and then made his way through the stairwells to the roof of a building close to the location of the outdoor event before shooting Kirk.
At around 12:20 p.m., Kirk was struck by a single shot. m. and brought to a hospital, where, according to authorities, he was declared dead.
According to Mason, the suspect fled off-campus into a neighborhood after traveling to the opposite side of the building and jumping off. According to Mason, authorities are searching through neighboring communities, contacting residents who have doorbell cameras and talking to witnesses in order to find any leads.
In addition to finding the weapon, Bohls said, investigators have also gathered forearm, palm, and shoe imprints for examination.
Authorities stressed that the shooting was “targeted” and that they are “pursuing every possibility.”. “.”.
Mason declared, “We will not stand for what happened yesterday.”. “We will apprehend this person because we are putting all of our resources into this. “..”.
As the manhunt for the culprit continues, the FBI was requesting that anyone with information, images, or video from the incident share it with investigators.
Trump lays the blame on political rhetoric.
During the ongoing search for the culprit, President Donald Trump and well-known MAGA figures attempted to link the murder to Democratic political rhetoric.
Trump stated in a social media video on Wednesday that “it’s long past time for all Americans and the media to face the fact that murder and violence are the tragic result of demonizing those with whom you disagree.”. “..”.
He went on to say, “Those on the radical Left have been comparing great Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the worst mass murderers and criminals in the world for years.”. “This type of rhetoric needs to end immediately because it is directly to blame for the terrorism that is currently occurring in our nation. “.”.
“I’m tired of seeing the bullets—they’re only going one way,” Eric, Trump’s son, told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “.
Governor of Utah. During his speech on Wednesday, Spencer Cox became emotional while discussing recent attacks on Republicans and Democrats.
Cox declared, “Our nation is broken.”. In Minnesota, there have been political killings lately. The governor of Pennsylvania was the target of an assassination attempt. Additionally, there was an attempt on the life of a former US president and presidential candidate who is currently on the US presidency. My words cannot bring our nation together. What is broken cannot be fixed by anything I say at this time. There is nothing I can say that will make Charlie Kirk return. We have broken hearts. “.”.
Controversial campus visit.
Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was powerful in the conservative youth movement and regarded as a confidant of Trump.
When he was eighteen, he established the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA in 2012. He was credited with helping Trump win a sizable majority of young voters in the 2024 elections.
The tour’s website stated that a “prove me wrong” table was anticipated at the Utah event.
An online petition was started by some students to ask university administrators to prevent the conservative political activist from visiting Utah Valley University.
According to Utah law enforcement sources who spoke to ABC News, police were not monitoring any particular or reliable threats prior to the deadly shooting, despite Kirk’s contentious campus visit.
Jeff Long, police chief at the university, estimated that over 3,000 people attended the event. According to Long, there were six police officers present in addition to Kirk’s personal guard.
Up until September, UVU will be closed. 14. This information was published on the university’s website.
Only one suspect is wanted.
Authorities say they have no evidence that anyone else was involved.
In an update Wednesday evening, the Utah Department of Public Safety stated that two individuals who had been initially arrested following the shooting had been released.
After the first was made public, university police accused him of obstruction. According to the department, following an “interrogation” by law enforcement, the second individual was placed under arrest and subsequently released.
Authorities in Utah stated that neither of these people currently have any connections to the shooting. “.”.
Both parties’ tributes.
Trump was one of the people who honored Kirk.
Trump declared on social media, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”. “Charlie was the best person to comprehend or possess the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America.”. He is no longer with us, but I, above all, loved and admired him. Melania and my condolences are with his lovely wife, Erika, and their family. We love you, Charlie.
“It is horrifying. “It’s among the most terrible things I’ve ever witnessed,” Trump said to Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent for ABC News.
Trump remarked, “He was a great guy,”. “He was an upright man. He was an amazing man. He is disliked by everyone. “..”.
Trump issued an order to honor Kirk by lowering all American flags nationwide to half-staff until Sunday night. He also declared on Thursday that he will posthumously present Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, describing him as a “giant of his generation.”. “.”.
The deadly shooting, according to Cox, was a “political assassination.”. “.
“Those who are at fault will be held completely accountable. There is no place for violence in our public life. “This act must be condemned by Americans of all political persuasions,” he stated on X after the attack.
The vice president, JD Vance, referred to Kirk as “a genuinely good guy and a young father” and asked for prayers following the shooting.
Both political factions expressed their condemnation.
“This type of violence has no place in our nation. Former President Joe Biden declared, “It must end now.”. “I pray for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones, as does Jill. “.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov. According to Democrat Josh Shapiro on X.
Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat and governor of California, stated on X that the “attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”. We in the United States of America must condemn all forms of political violence. “,”
ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, Ivan Pereira, Lalee Ibssa, Isabella Murray, Katherine Faulders, Jack Date, Chris Looft and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.
