Orem Utah, USA – The FBI has released images of a person of interest sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk,” the FBI’s Salt Lake City office said on Thursday while posting two images of the individual on X. The man, who appears to be college-aged, was seen wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, with one photo showing him inside a stairwell.
Authorities announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Weapon Recovered
FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls said investigators recovered a “high-powered bolt action rifle” believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. The firearm, identified as an older imported Mauser .30-06 caliber rifle wrapped in a towel, was found in a wooded area along the suspect’s apparent escape route.
Law enforcement officials said the chamber contained a spent cartridge and three unspent rounds marked with words and symbols described as “transgender and anti-fascist.” Officials stressed that it is too early to determine whether the markings were genuine or intended as misdirection. The rifle and ammunition are undergoing DNA and fingerprint analysis.
Tracking the Suspect
According to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, video footage shows the suspect entering the Orem campus at 11:52 a.m., climbing through stairwells to the roof of a nearby building, and opening fire on Kirk at 12:20 p.m.
Kirk was struck by a single round and rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. After the shooting, the suspect jumped from the building and fled into a nearby neighborhood.
Investigators are canvassing the area, reviewing security and doorbell camera footage, and speaking with witnesses. Authorities have also collected a footwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprint from the scene.
“This was a targeted attack,” Mason said. “We are exhausting every lead, and we will catch this individual.”
Political Fallout
The shooting quickly sparked political reactions. Former President Donald Trump released a video statement blaming what he called “radical Left rhetoric” for fueling violence against conservatives.
“For years, those on the Left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and criminals,” Trump said. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we are seeing today, and it must stop.”
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, echoed the sentiment during an interview with Fox News, saying, “I’m sick and tired of seeing the bullets — they are only going one way.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, visibly emotional, urged Americans to recognize the broader issue of political violence. “Our nation is broken,” Cox said. “We’ve had political assassinations recently in Minnesota. We had an attack yesterday here in Utah. This is not who we are, and it has to stop.”
The FBI is urging anyone with information, photos, or video related to the incident to contact investigators immediately.
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