Detectives in Utah offered a $100,000 reward on Thursday as they continued a nationwide manhunt for the person who shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a university campus, releasing images of a person of interest and a suspected murder weapon.
Officials said the shot that killed Kirk, 31, was fired from a rooftop about 142 yards away from a courtyard at Utah Valley University where he was speaking. Investigators found what they described as a "high-powered bolt-action rifle," reported to be an imported .30-caliber Mauser, wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus and believe it may be the weapon used in the attack.
Authorities released surveillance images of a person of interest seen wearing a baseball cap, dark sunglasses and a dark shirt bearing an American flag design. Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said investigators had "good video footage" and were able to track the individual's movements from when he arrived at Utah Valley University at 11:52 a.m., about 30 minutes before the shooting. Law enforcement officials described the suspect as appearing to be of college age and said he blended into the panicked crowd after the shooting and left the campus area.
A preliminary report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, cited by the Wall Street Journal, said ammunition recovered from the rifle contained engravings with "transgender and anti-fascist statements." A senior law enforcement official later told The New York Times that the markings may have been misinterpreted and that the information had not been verified by FBI analysts and did not align with other evidence collected, underscoring that the engravings remained under review.
The FBI said it had received at least 130 pieces of information from the public and asked residents living near the campus to check home surveillance systems for relevant footage. Investigators scrapped a scheduled press conference on Thursday, citing "rapid developments in our investigation," and federal and state officials said they were continuing to pursue leads.
Kirk, the founder of conservative group Turning Point USA and a prominent online commentator, was pronounced dead less than three hours after the shooting, authorities said. He was a father of two. Turning Point USA posted a statement calling Kirk a "leader, a mentor and a friend" and said his legacy would endure. The organization said Kirk's public events, including his campus "prove me wrong" tables and debates, had helped him amass a large social media following.
Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Utah to meet with Kirk's family. Officials said Kirk's body would be flown to his home state of Arizona on Air Force Two. President Donald Trump pledged to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom and called him "a giant of his generation." Donald Trump Jr. said he had informed the president of Kirk's death.
Family members and allies described the emotional toll on Kirk's widow and children. A colleague said Erika Kirk, who won Miss Arizona USA in 2012, and the family have relied on their faith. Jack Posobiec, a contributor to Turning Point USA, described Erika Kirk as "unbelievably strong" but acknowledged that the family faced the immediate difficulty of explaining the death to their children.
The shooting produced widely circulated and graphic video of the incident. TikTok said it would remove videos showing Kirk being struck after a request from Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a friend of Kirk's. Social media platforms had already seen the footage spread rapidly before takedown requests were acted upon.
The federal response drew scrutiny after an apparent miscommunication during a press conference in which an official statement implying a suspect was in custody was later corrected. FBI Director Kash Patel was reported to be traveling to Orem, Utah, where he was expected to speak with state officials.
Kirk, 31, was a polarizing figure in national politics who helped grow Turning Point USA into a major conservative campus and youth organization. He served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during a campaign and faced repeated controversies for past remarks, including comments that drew criticism as racially insensitive and sexist. He authored books advocating Second Amendment rights and often framed gun ownership as essential to protecting other liberties.
Investigators said they were continuing to follow leads in multiple jurisdictions and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The reward announced Thursday was intended to encourage tips that could lead to the suspect's capture and help resolve outstanding questions about the weapon and the motive behind the attack.
As the investigation proceeded, officials emphasized that key pieces of evidence remained under examination, and they cautioned against drawing conclusions until forensic analysis and intelligence assessments were complete. The case prompted national commentary from political leaders in the United States and the United Kingdom, who expressed condolences and reiterated calls against political violence.