Two people who were detained and later released following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have faced threats and online harassment despite state and federal officials saying they were not connected to the killing, Utah authorities said Thursday.
"These individuals were not suspects. They were people of interest," Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said. "They don’t deserve that harassment." Both the FBI and Utah's public safety department issued a joint statement Wednesday night that included the full names of the two people who had been taken in for questioning, and photos of one man being handcuffed circulated widely on social media.
Authorities said the person who killed Kirk remained at large more than 24 hours after the shooting at Utah Valley University. Law enforcement officials repeatedly emphasized that the two people initially detained were questioned and released after investigators determined they had no connection to the homicide.
The episode drew scrutiny over the release of names and images of people who have only been detained. Felipe Rodriguez, a former New York City police detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, called the practice "highly unusual, especially in this age of doxing and online threats," and urged caution by law enforcement when disclosing identifying information.
At one point during the early hours after the shooting, public statements from different agencies were difficult to reconcile. FBI Director Kash Patel initially wrote on social media that "the subject for the horrific shooting" had been taken into custody, then later said the person had been released after questioning. Utah officials separately said a person of interest was in custody, but it was not clear whether those references were to the same individual. By Wednesday night, state and federal officials said neither of the people questioned was determined to have any connection to the shooting.
Department policies and local practices differ on the release of names. Some agencies, including Los Angeles police under certain regulations, advise against releasing a suspect's name until an arrest and booking have occurred. Critics of early disclosure say publicizing names before charges are filed can lead to misidentification, harassment and threats.
Investigators said they continued to pursue leads in the killing and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. Authorities have not released details about a possible motive or the identity of a suspect, and officials have cautioned the public to avoid spreading unverified information as the investigation continues.