By Dalia Faheid, Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal, Dakin Andone, Maureen Chowdhury, Betsy Klein, Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN
Law enforcement conduct a search of the Utah Valley University campus after Charlie Kirk was shot on 10 September. Photo: Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images via CNN Newsource
A manhunt is underway for the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk, a prominent United States conservative political activist and supporter of President Donald Trump, at an event at Utah Valley University. State and federal officials say they have tracked the shooter's movements.
The FBI is asking for the public's help identifying a person of interest in connection with the shooting of Kirk.
The FBI's Salt Lake City field office released images of the person of interest on X.
The office said the public can submit tips by dialing 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting their online tips page.
FBI Salt Lake City X account posted two photos Thursday morning (local time) saying they are “asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University". Photo: FBI Salt Lake City via CNN Newsource
The FBI is offering a reward of up to US$100,000 (NZ$167,000) for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person or people responsible for the fatal shooting.
The FBI announced the reward on X, shortly after the FBI's Salt Lake City field office released images of a person of interest.
Officials believe they have recovered the firearm used to shoot Kirk during the event, said Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office.
The weapon is a "high-powered, bolt action rifle" that was "recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled," Bohls said at a news conference.
The FBI will analyse the weapon.
In addition to the rifle believed to have been used in Wednesday's shooting (local time), officials have also collected a footwear impression, a palm print, and forearm imprints that will be analysed.
"Tips are being fully investigated," Bohls said, "As of this morning, we have received more than 130 tips."
Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on 10 September. Photo: Tess Crowley/The Deseret News/AP via CNN Newsource
Authorities were able to obtain "good video" of the person they believe to be Kirk's killer, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters.
"We do have good video of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time," Beau said, "We're working through some technologies and some ways to identity this individual.
Wednesday's event at Utah Valley University was Kirk's first stop on his fall semester series of live events at colleges and universities, titled "The American Comeback Tour ft. Kirk."
Some of the events - including Wednesday's in Orem, Utah - were promoted as having a "Prove Me Wrong Table" - where Kirk famously faced opponents and challenged them to debate in public.
The deadly attack has been condemned by both sides of the aisle. President Donald Trump described Kirk's death as a "dark moment for America" and blamed rhetoric from the "radical left" for causing political violence.
After co-founding the conservative non-profit Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18, Kirk became a prominent supporter of Trump, courting young voters and using his network of nonprofits to seek to turn out voters on campuses and churches for Trump in 2024.
- CNN
