The search for the shooter who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk has intensified, with federal investigators releasing new video footage of a person of interest. The footage shows an individual in a hat, sunglasses, and a black long-sleeve shirt running across a roof before climbing down and fleeing the scene shortly after the fatal attack.
The shooting occurred at Utah Valley University, where Kirk had been addressing thousands of supporters. Authorities have since uncovered critical evidence, including a palm print, a shoe impression, and a high-powered hunting rifle discarded along the escape route. Despite receiving more than 7,000 leads and tips, investigators have yet to name a suspect or establish a motive.
At a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, standing alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, appealed directly to the public for assistance. Officials stressed the challenge of separating credible information from the surge of online disinformation, some of it allegedly pushed by foreign actors seeking to inflame tensions. Cox vowed that the suspect would be brought to justice and pledged to pursue the death penalty if convicted.
The FBI has offered a reward equivalent to Ksh14.6 million for information leading to the identification and arrest of the shooter. Authorities emphasized that community cooperation is critical in solving the case.
Kirk’s death has reignited debate over the growing threat of political violence in the United States. Leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the assassination. Former president Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk, promised that the administration would “track down” everyone responsible and suggested that investigators were making progress. Trump also announced plans to award Kirk the Medal of Freedom posthumously.
The activist’s body was flown to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, with Vice President JD Vance and his wife accompanying Kirk’s widow and children. Vance, who helped carry the casket, praised Kirk’s central role in mobilizing young voters and shaping the current administration. Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded, described him as not only a political leader but also a devoted husband and father.
Calls for restraint have grown in the wake of the assassination, with leaders warning against retaliatory violence. Yet the killing has underscored deepening divisions in the country, amplifying concerns over how political disagreements increasingly risk turning deadly.
