FBI releases images of suspect after Charlie Kirk assassination

The FBI has released images of a 'college-aged' suspect believed to have fatally shot US conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University. The killing has been described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as a 'political assassination.'

The Attack

Kirk, 31, a close ally of US President Donald Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was addressing nearly 3,000 people at his 'Prove Me Wrong' outdoor event when shots rang out on Wednesday. Authorities said the shooter climbed a rooftop, opened fire with a bolt-action rifle, and then escaped into a nearby neighbourhood. Disturbing footage of the attack circulated widely online.

The FBI confirmed recovery of the suspected rifle, along with footprints and other forensic evidence, which are now under analysis. Officials stressed they are counting on public assistance to track down the gunman.

National Shock and Condemnation

Kirk was pronounced dead at a local hospital hours later. His assassination drew immediate outrage, with bipartisan leaders and international voices condemning political violence.

President Trump, who survived an assassination attempt last year, mourned Kirk on Truth Social, calling him “a great guy from top to bottom… No one understood America’s youth better.”

Governor Cox stressed that Kirk’s death was an attack on free political discourse, warning that it threatens the nation’s constitutional foundation.

Vice President JD Vance, cancelling a scheduled 9/11 event in New York, will travel to Utah to support Kirk’s family. Remembering him, Vance said, “So much of our success traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organise and convene.”