Gunman still at large after Kirk's assassination

Federal investigators said Sept. 11 that the gunman who assassinated Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk remains at large, but they released photos of a “person of interest” and announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and identification of the assassin. 

“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’s Salt Lake City office posted on social media around 12:00 p.m. 

Hours later, the agency announced the reward and later published additional close-up photos of the person of interest. That evening, officials also released video showing the suspect leaping from a rooftop moments after the attack.

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 during a college event at Utah Valley University on his “American Comeback Tour.” At a morning press conference Sept. 11, FBI officials said they recovered what they believe is the murder weapon — a high-powered bolt-action rifle — in a wooded area near campus. Investigators also collected a palm print, forearm impressions, and a footwear impression for analysis. 

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said surveillance and witness accounts show the suspect arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. Sept. 10, climbed to the roof of a nearby building through a stairwell, and opened fire on Kirk as he addressed a packed courtyard. 

The shooter then jumped from the roof and fled through surrounding neighborhoods, Mason said. Agents later obtained doorbell camera footage of the suspect from a nearby neighborhood.

Mason said it was easy for the shooter to reach the roof because the Utah Valley University building had open pathways and no locked doors. He added that the single fatal shot came from 175 yards away — an “average shot” for an “avid outdoorsman rifleman,” he said, NBC News reported. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, an initial internal law enforcement report said ammunition left at the scene was engraved with “transgender and antifascist ideology.” 

Federal investigators have not yet confirmed a motive. In a news release, the Utah Department of Public Safety acknowledged reports of inscriptions on the weapon but did not confirm them. 

“There are reportedly photos of a weapon and various details about that firearm and ammunition, including inscriptions and symbols,” the release stated, according to NBC News. “At this time, we are not able to provide further details on the content of those inscriptions.”

In a press release, the Utah Department of Public Safety declared the shooting “is believed to be a targeted attack” and said it is working with the FBI, the Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office, and local police departments on the ongoing investigation. Officials noted that two men were briefly detained during the probe but later cleared of involvement.

University police assigned six officers to the event, alongside Kirk’s personal security, the release stated. Roughly 3,000 people filled the courtyard where the shooting took place. 

This is a developing story.