The individual responsible for assassinating Charlie Kirk remains at large, and a massive manhunt is still underway. On Thursday morning, the FBI held a press conference announcing a significant breakthrough in the search for the shooter.
Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Wednesday while hosting an event at Utah Valley University. The shocking attack sparked immediate concern across the country, and law enforcement agencies have been working around the clock to locate the suspect.
Both the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that the shooting was not random but a targeted attack against Kirk. For the first several hours, only limited information about the suspect was available. However, at Thursday’s press briefing, authorities revealed new details. The shooter is believed to be college-aged, and investigators discovered a firearm in a wooded area near the scene. The weapon was described as a “high-powered, bolt-action rifle.” Alongside the rifle, a footprint believed to belong to the suspect was also recovered, according to NBC News.
FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls addressed reporters, explaining that investigators now possess an image of the shooter. While he declined to release the image immediately, citing the ongoing investigation, he assured the public that it would be made available soon. Bohls emphasized that he does not believe the broader community is at risk but stressed that the FBI is “exhausting every resource” to capture the person responsible.
“We’re not sure how far he has gone yet,” Bohls told reporters, according to the BBC. He also urged anyone with information, photos, or videos connected to the shooting to contact the FBI. By Monday morning, more than 130 tips had already been submitted. “I assure you that all leads and tips are being fully investigated,” Bohls said firmly.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason also spoke during the press conference. He revealed that he had personally spoken with Kirk’s widow, Erika, on Wednesday night, and described the family as “devastated” by the tragedy. Mason reflected on the loss not only as a law enforcement officer but also as a father and a husband.
“As commissioner of public safety, as a father, as a husband, I can only imagine what that family is going through,” Mason said. He condemned the shooting, describing it as an attack that does not represent Utah or its people. “The heinous event that happened yesterday is not Utah; this is not what we’re known for.”
Mason vowed that every possible resource was being used to bring the suspect to justice. “We will not stand for what happened yesterday. We are exhausting every lead, we have every officer invested in this, every investigator, every local agency—we will catch this individual,” he declared.