Authorities late Wednesday were searching for a new person of interest in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, hours after the FBI acknowledged that a man initially detained had been questioned and released.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University earlier in the evening, sparking chaos among the roughly 3,000 people attending his “American Comeback Tour.”
FBI Director Kash Patel initially said on social media that a “subject” was in custody. But he later clarified the individual was let go after questioning, underscoring the uncertainty and shifting nature of the manhunt.
“No one is in custody at this time,” said a law enforcement official familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Heavily armed officers patrolled neighborhoods around the university, knocking on doors and showing residents a photo of the new person of interest. Police described the shooter as firing from a rooftop overlooking the Sorensen Center courtyard where Kirk was speaking.
Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect would be “held accountable in a state with the death penalty.” Officials have not released a motive, description, or charges connected to the person of interest.
The killing drew condemnation across the political spectrum. Former President Donald Trump called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom,” linking the murder to what he described as a surge of political violence. Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff and vowed action.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent political rival, called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.” Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a 2011 shooting, said her “heart breaks” for Kirk’s wife and two young children.
Videos verified by the Associated Press show Kirk seated under a tent, fielding a question about gun violence, when a single shot rang out. He reached toward his neck as blood poured down, and the crowd screamed before scattering.
Former congressman Jason Chaffetz, in attendance, told Fox News the shooting sounded “close” and described security as “light.”
Campus Under Lockdown
Utah Valley University immediately evacuated and canceled classes. Students and staff were ordered to shelter in place until police could safely escort them off campus.
The event had already drawn controversy: nearly 1,000 students signed an online petition opposing Kirk’s visit, while administrators defended the event as a matter of free speech.
Kirk’s Legacy
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18, transforming it into a nationwide conservative youth movement with deep ties to the Trump family. Known for his confrontational style, he built a massive online following and became one of the right’s most visible campus voices.
His death comes amid a string of politically motivated attacks in the U.S., from the shooting of Trump at a campaign rally last year to the recent assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker.
