Now Reading: Charlie Kirk shooting live updates: Rifle found, suspect sought
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Charlie Kirk shooting live updates: Rifle found, suspect sought
Charlie Kirk shooting live updates: Rifle found, suspect sought
OREM, UT – Authorities are still searching for the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University, but have identified a rifle believed to have been used to fire the single fatal shot.
A suspect was not identified, but authorities said in an update Thursday that they recovered a high-powered rifle in the woods they believe was used in the shooting and learned new details about a suspect from video being analyzed. Photos of a new person of interest were also released by the FBI on Thursday.
Officials haven’t confirmed the shooter’s motive or ideology, but President Donald Trump told reporters he has “an indication,” which authorites will address in their ongoing investigation.
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and Trump’s close political ally, was speaking outside in a courtyard at the university on Wednesday afternoon.
The shooting, captured in graphic detail in video clips that rapidly spread around the internet, sparked fear and panic among the some 3,000 attendees, prompting the school to evacuate the campus and close down as authorities investigate.
Some students fled while others barricaded themselves into classrooms, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said.
The suspect “blended in well with a college institution” and appeared to be of college age, Mason said. The individual was seen on video jumping from a rooftop and running off campus.
“We do have good video footage of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time,” Mason said, adding that investigators are using technology to help identify the suspect from the video.
“We are investing everything we have into this and we will catch this individual,” he said.
The shooting, which officials have described as a “targeted attack” and “political assassination,” drew swift condemnation from Republicans and Democrats. Trump, who ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, has vowed that his administration will “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity.”
‘A turning point’ for the nation?
Kelly Quirarte, 57, said she punched a wall in her Lehi, Utah, home when she heard about Kirk’s shooting.
“Why here?” she wondered. “Why in Utah? We’re a red state. This shouldn’t happen here.”
The next afternoon, she brought her daughter and three grandchildren to the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was shot to pay their respects and leave a bouquet. The conservative commentator’s message of faith stirred her, she said, and it will live on through the Trump administration.
For now, Quirarte said, she hopes the shock of this shooting will cause people to reflect, to discuss their differences, and to disagree more peacefully.
“I think this is a turning point,” she said, echoing the name of the organization that Kirk led. “I really do. I think this is going to be a turning point. I pray that’s the case.”
– Brandon Loomis, Arizona Republic
Trump expects to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral, says he spoke to commentator’s family
Trump on Thursday said he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral.
“They’ve asked me to go, and I think have an obligation to be there,” the president told reporters at the White House. He also said he spoke to Kirk’s family in the wake of his killing.
“She’s devastated, absolutely devastated,” he said of Kirk’s widow, Erika. The couple has two children.
– Amanda Lee Myers and Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Trump says he has indication of shooter’s motive
Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon that he had an idea of Kirk’s killer’s motivation.
“I have an indication,” Trump said at White House before boarding Marine One for from the South Lawn enroute to New York. “Yeah, but we’ll let you know about that later.”
He didn’t immediately provide any additional information. The president described the assassin as “an animal, total animal.”
“What he did is disgraceful. Charlie Kirk was a great person, a great man, great in every way, especially with youth,” said Trump. “So hopefully we’ll have him and we will deal with him very appropriately.”
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Man arrested at Charlie Kirk crime scene on obstruction charge
Citing the Utah Department of Public Safety, the Associated Press reports that a man was arrested after walking past crime tape and taking photos of the Charlie Kirk murder scene and the officers there.
The man ran away when officials ordered him to stop and tried to identify him. He was taken into custody and booked on charges of felony obstruction and trespassing, AP reported.
The Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request to confirm the arrest
– Amanda Lee Myers
Weapon found is ‘gold mine of information’
Donald Lane, a former U.S. Secret Service agent with decades of experience in fugitive manhunts, told USA TODAY that the recovery of the rifle used in the killing of Kirk is a significant development for law enforcement.
“Recovering that weapon is absolutely huge,” he said. “It’s a gold mine of information.”
Lane said experts analyzing the gun could discover fingerprints, DNA or perhaps a serial number that could trace back to the shooter. He also noted other breakthroughs in the case, including a palm and a shoe print discovered near the scene of the shooting.
Each piece of evidence, Lane and other experts said, greatly improves law enforcement’s chances of identifying the suspect. And if the suspect is identified, experts said it will be difficult for the alleged gunman to avoid detection considering the high-profile nature of the case.
“It is always very challenging for fugitives to stay on the loose,” said Scott Duffey, co-director for the Criminal Justice Institute at Wilmington University and a retired FBI agent, adding that research shows the vast majority of fugitives are eventually caught.
− Christopher Cann
News conference on Charlie Kirk investigation postponed amid ‘rapid developments‘
An afternoon news conference from law enforcement on the investigation into Kirk’s shooting death was abruptly postponed because of “rapid developments in our investigation,” a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Public Safety said.
“We will release an updated time later today” spokeswoman Hillary Koellner said.
The news conference was previously scheduled to take place at 12:45 p.m MT.
A manhunt for the suspect remains active. The FBI announced a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Earlier, the agency released a pair of images of a person of interest in the case that showed a man in a stairwell wearing a black long sleeve shirt with an American flag, jeans, sunglasses and a dark hat.
− Joey Garrison
Kirk shooting is ‘opening my eyes,’ mourner says
Albert Berriel, of Provo, Utah, was unfamiliar Kirk until his 30-year-old daughter called from Avondale, Arizona, and was crying about the shooting.
He searched for video and liked the message he heard from Kirk.
“It’s opening my eyes,” the 56-year-old man said.
On the morning of Sept. 11, Berriel brought two candles to light at a memorial forming in front of Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Tears streaked down his face after he placed the candles among dozens of others.
“It hurts,” he said.
– Brandon Loomis, Arizona Republic
Utah authorities likely autopsied Kirk as part of state Medical Examiner probe
Josh Loftin, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, told USA TODAY Sept. 11 that he could not comment on the status of Kirk’s body, including whether it had been autopsied as part of an investigation to determine cause of death before being released to Kirk’s family.
But the spokesman said that under Utah law, the state Office of the Medical Examiner is required to conduct an investigation into the cause of death, including an autopsy, for anyone who has died from a car wreck, shooting or any other “sudden, unexpected, violent or suspicious death.”
By state law, the results of that investigation – including the specific cause of death – remains confidential “and is shared only with law enforcement agencies and the next of kin,” Loftin said. The Medical Examiner website said a designated legal representative and physician who treated the deceased, could also get a copy.
Kirk was struck in the neck on Sept. 10 by a shot from a high-powered, bolt-action rifle, state and federal authorities said.
− Josh Meyer
Condolences pour in to the family Charlie Kirk leaves behind
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death leaves his wife Erika and their children grieving, along with his hometown community in Illinois.
‘We need to look past’ divisions, Orem councilmember says
Orem City Councilmember Jenn Gale laid daisies at a memorial for Kirk, then walked around it to read and photograph the tributes left there in front of Timpanogos Regional Hospital.
She especially appreciated a sign that said, “Peacemakers wanted!” Neighbors should view each other as neighbors, she said, and not as “woke” or “MAGA.”
“We need to look past all that and get to community,” Gale said the morning after the shooting.
She had not known much about Kirk before, she said, and had visited the memorial to support community members and see how they were grieving. That such an event could happen in her city came as a shock, she said, coming shortly after she had told someone that she believed Orem to be among the safest places in the world. It’s called “Family City USA,” she noted.
“Their safe world has been violated,” Gale said. Still, she expects residents to rally to each other’s support.
“We’re resilient,” she said. “I believe we will find the good in this and that we’ll love each other more and better.”
– Brandon Loomis, Arizona Republic
Shooting ‘created millions of Charlie Kirks’
Annika Orozco laid white roses at a memorial outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital the morning after Kirk was shot and killed.
Orozco, 25, said Kirk had profoundly influenced the course of her life, starting when she was 18 and first saw a video of him.
“I actually didn’t go to college because of Charlie Kirk and it’s the best decision I ever made,” Orozco said.
She said she instead became an entrepreneur. She and her husband are preparing to open a gym this winter.
“I believe strongly that college is teaching woke ideology,” Orozco added.
It’s something she said Kirk drove home on campuses by telling women they were being taught that marriage is wrong, or a trap.
She said Kirk taught that America was founded on “correct ideals” and that God and family should be top priorities. She chose to bring white roses to symbolize God and angels in Kirk’s honor.
The memorial grew through the morning as more people arrived, laying flowers, lighting candles and placing supportive placards around the entry sign on the hospital’s lawn.
While sad and angry over the shooting, Orozco said she believes those ideals will prevail, and that her generation will be the one to save the country from “crumbling, woke ideals.”
Violence won’t quiet Kirk’s voice, she said.
“If their agenda was to silence this movement, that was the worst thing that they could have possibly done,” she said. “I think they created millions of Charlie Kirks.”
– Brandon Loomis, Arizona Republic
Vice President JD Vance will fly Kirk’s casket, family and close friends to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two, a source familiar with the plans said.
Vance and his wife Usha are expected to meet with Kirk’s family and close friends in Salt Lake City before the flight to Arizona, where Kirk lived with his wife Erika and their two children.
– Francesca Chambers
The FBI on Thursday offered up to $100,000 as a reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the “individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Authorities are also seeking photos and videos from the incident that could help them find the killer.
Consular officials at the State Department have been directed to “undertake appropriate action” against foreigners in the U.S. who have made comments “praising, rationalizing, or making light” of Kirk’s death, said Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau on X.
Landau did not say what action the agency would take. During Trump’s second term, the State Department has been aggressive in revoking visas of foreign nationals in the country, including those held by many university students. The agency in June announced a new policy of reviewing the online presence of international students applying for visas to study in the U.S.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau said, encouraging people to report such comments to the State Department.
– Christopher Cann
In the chaos of this moment, it’s easy to lose sight of the people most affected by Kirk’s death: His family.
Kirk, 31, was a husband to Erika Frantzve and father of two young children: a daughter, 3, and a son, 1.
Regardless of your views or political leanings, for many the grief of losing a parent is relatable and unbearable.
“Grief can surface in unexpected ways here. For some, it’s not grief for Kirk himself, but grief for the state of the world, for the violence itself, or for the children and family left behind,” explains Gina Moffa, licensed clinical social worker. “For others, it’s grief tangled with anger or ambivalence.”
– David Oliver
The FBI in Salt Lake City released images of someone they described as a person of interest in the shooting investigation.
The images show what appears to be a young man wearing dark clothing including a shirt with what appears to be an American flag. He is wearing dark-colored sunglasses and a hat.
Anyone with information about the person’s identity should call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Trump says he has been briefed on the search for Kirk’s killer and plans to speak to the late conservative activist’s family this afternoon.
“They have a virtual manhunt out there. So we’ll see what happens. We hope you get them,” Trump told reporters after a 9/11 observance ceremony at the Pentagon.
Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Wednesday on social media and said later, in a video on X, that he was filled with “grief and anger” over the fatal shooting at a college campus in Utah.
“What a great guy he was,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “You don’t replace a Charlie Kirk. He was unique.”
– Francesca Chambers
The United States Capitol Police has ramped up security measures in the wake of the fatal shooting of Kirk, the agency confirmed to USA TODAY. Capitol Police said its officers have long been “operating in a heightened threat environment” and would continue to “work around the clock” following the tragedy.
“Although, for safety reasons we cannot provide specific details about our increased security posture, we continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to carry out our critical mission,” the agency said in a statement.
– N’dea Yancey-Bragg
Trump said he will award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously as he paid tribute to the deceased conservative activist during remarks at the Pentagon on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Trump called the shooting death of Kirk a “heinous assassination.”
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said. “Our prayers are with his wonderful wife Erika, and his beautiful children.”
– Joey Garrison
The shooting suspect was spotted on video footage entering campus at about 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, minutes before Kirk’s event was scheduled to begin. The shot was fired at about 12:20.
Investigators have video of the suspect entering the campus and going through stairwells and up to a rooftop location from which the shot was fired. After the shooting, investigators traced the suspect’s movements off the roof before the individual fled off campus into a neighborhood. Authorities are looking for doorbell cameras and other security footage that may exist.
The rifle was located in a wooded area where the shooter fled, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said. Investigators also recovered an impression of the shooter’s footwear, and other impressions left behind at and around the scene, Bohls said.
The FBI is looking for video and images of the incident and aftermath to help in the identification and capture of the suspect. It’s not clear how far the shooter may thave gone, he said.
“No tip is too small,” Bohls said.
Two people were detained in the hours after the shooting, including one who was interrogated by law enforcement. Both were subsequently released and cleared of being suspects, Mason said.
Mason urged the public to cease harassment of the two people and have patience with the investigative process. The two previously detained people were facing scrutiny and threats, he said.
“There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals,” the Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI said in a statement. “There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter.”
Vance will travel to Salt Lake City on Thursday to pay respects to Kirk’s family, canceling his previous plans to visit New York City to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to a source familiar with Vance’s plans.
Vance will be joined by second lady Usha Vance.
The vice president was a close friend of the charismatic conservative activist, who was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A manhunt for the suspect is still active.
– Joey Garrison and Francesca Chambers
Once you see the videos, you can’t unsee them.
Graphic videos of Kirk’s killing spread quickly online, appearing in people’s social media feeds, often with little-to-no warning.
Getting confronted with gruesome, horrific imagery has, unfortunately, become an assumed risk when logging onto social media. Mental health and media experts, however, say the proliferation of violent videos online can have a deeply negative impact on our psyches − and that you don’t have to view material like this in order to stay informed or have empathy for the victims.
– Charles Trepany
Authorities have not named anyone believed to be involved in the shooting as of Thursday morning.
The shooter was “dressed in all dark clothing,” Utah Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety Beau Mason said on Wednesday, noting that investigators were looking at security footage on campus for hints about the suspect.
The person is believed to have fired the shot from the roof of a building down to the student courtyard where the event was taking place, the department said in an update.
Six campus police officers and Kirk’s traveling security team were working at the event, the department said.
At a small makeshift memorial outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital, about a dozen mourners lit candles, held flags, and talked to each other in muffled voices. One of those paying his respects was Ammon Paxton, 19, who said he was about four people away from Kirk when the conservative activist was shot.
Paxton said he heard the shot go off, then saw the bullet hit Kirk. He said he watched him fall over and collapse.
“I can’t even describe how gruesome it was. It was just terrible,” he admitted. “He was one of my biggest heroes and my greatest inspirations. I looked up to him a lot.”
Paxton condemned the shooting, which he called an “assassination,” and said he and other young conservatives will fight back against what he called violence from the Left, but within the traditional definition of “conservatism.”
“I was pushed further right due to this event today, and I will not back down,” he said.
But asked if he had a message for angry young conservatives who might be baited into retaliation for the shooting, Paxton said they should “stay focused on Jesus.”
“This is not what Charlie Kirk would have wanted,” Paxton urged. “He was a peacemaker.”
Calling Kirk “a martyr for truth and freedom,” Trump slammed the “radical Left” and said its heated rhetoric was “directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.”
In a four-minute live address posted to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump – sitting in the Oval Office – said he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination” of Kirk on a college campus in Utah.The young firebrand, 31, was a staunch political ally of Trump and helped fuel his political comeback and return to the White House in January. He had featured red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps on stage with him when he was shot once in the neck while talking to students as part of his “The American Comeback Tour.” Read more here.
Panic and fear that broke out after Kirk was fatally gunned down during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University became shock and grief as students on campus began to process the attack.
Hours after Wednesday’s shooting and a campus lockdown, a huge bouquet had been placed near a prominent university sign as police carrying machine guns patrolled the university, and the community hunkered down.
Lance Suaste, a university junior, said that she was near where Kirk was speaking when the shooting happened and that she saw the panicked crowd running.
“It doesn’t feel real so it’s very shocking,” university junior Lance Suaste told USA TODAY. “Nothing like this happens in Utah.” Read more here.
Contributing: Reuters
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