United States authorities have released photographs of a man described as a “person of interest” in connection with the fatal shooting of right-wing youth leader, Charlie Kirk, at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, shared the images on Thursday via its X account, appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the man, who was captured wearing a baseball cap, dark sunglasses, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt featuring an American flag design.
“This individual is not yet a suspect, but we are asking for the public’s help in identifying him,” FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls told reporters. “We’re doing everything we can to track him down. At this time, the shooter is still at large.”
The bureau also confirmed the recovery of the presumed murder weapon — a high-powered bolt action rifle — found in a wooded area near the crime scene. A reward of up to $100,000 has been announced for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd at the university. Witnesses described panic and chaos as students and attendees scrambled for safety.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the incident, calling it a “political assassination.”
Students said the shooting highlighted the risks of speaking openly about political beliefs. “It makes me feel like I should be very careful about expressing my political ideas,” said Samuel Kimball, a software engineering student at the university.
Former President Donald Trump, who credited Kirk with helping his return to the White House last year, was the first to confirm Kirk’s death on social media. In a video address, Trump described the killing as a “dark moment for America,” accusing “the radical left” of fueling hostility that led to the tragedy.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and criminals,” Trump said. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing.”
On Thursday, Trump announced Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions.”
Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Utah to meet with Kirk’s family after canceling a trip to New York for the September 11 anniversary.