A cloud of confusion and uncertainty has fallen over Utah following the fatal shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While officials initially announced the detention of a suspect, they later reversed course, leaving the gunman at large and intensifying a massive manhunt.
Charlie Kirk, 31, a co-founder of the influential youth group Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed while addressing a large outdoor crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. The incident, which took place around 12:20 p.m. local time, is being investigated as a “targeted assassination,” according to the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The confusion began at a press conference where Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that police were interviewing a “person of interest.” However, at the same conference, DPS commissioner Beau Mason contradicted the governor, saying the perpetrator was still “at large.” Further adding to the conflicting reports, FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that an unnamed person had been detained for questioning, but this individual was later released, as investigators found no connection to the shooting.
The search for the shooter is now a multi-agency effort, with the Utah DPS working with the FBI, the Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office, and local police departments. “This shooting is still an active investigation,” the DPS stated, adding that they are unable to provide further details to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Social media videos from the event show attendees running in panic as Kirk’s personal security team carried him away from the scene and into a waiting SUV. He was rushed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The shooting occurred just 20 minutes into his speech, as he was answering a question on the number of mass shooters in America.
According to officials, the single shot that killed Kirk was fired from a building about 200 yards away. While CCTV footage shows a person in dark clothing believed to be the suspect, no details have been released regarding the type of weapon used or if it has been recovered.
The tragic death of Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two young children, has sparked widespread shock and condemnation from across the political spectrum. As Governor Cox stated, “This was a political assassination.”