Featured Image Credit: FBI
Topics: Charlie Kirk, US News, Crime
Emily Brown
The FBI has released a photo of a person of interest related to the assassination of US activist Charlie Kirk.
The FBI office for Salt Lake City, Utah, took to X, formerly Twitter, today (September 11) to share two images of the person of interest following Kirk's death at a debate event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and co-founder of the youth organisation Turning Point USA, had been speaking in front of a crowd on September 10 when he was suddenly struck with a single shot. He was rushed to hospital but ultimately died of his injuries.
The shooter has been described as wearing dark clothing when they took the shot from a nearby rooftop, but at the time of writing no suspects have been arrested for the killing.
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The FBI has now shared the images alongside a caption which states it is 'asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University'.
"1-800-CALL-FBI", the agency added, for anyone with information.
The release of the images comes after Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason announced on September 11 that authorities had 'good video' of the shooter.
Mason said authorities were 'working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual', but he assured they would ask for the public's help if needed.
“If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to you as the media and we will push that publicly to help us identify them,” Mason said. “But we are confident in our abilities right now.”
As the investigation continues, police shared a theory that the shooter jumped off the roof of the building and fled the scene by blending in on the campus where Kirk was shot.
They noted that the shooter appeared to be of 'college age'.
Utah Valley University immediately evacuated its campus after the shooting, as authorities got to work searching for the shooter.
According to Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, police discovered what they believe to be the firearm used in the shooting in a 'wooded area where the shooter had fled'.
The weapon was described as a 'high-powered, bolt action rifle', Bohls said at a news conference. The FBI is now set to analyze the weapon.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.