FBI Offers $100K Reward in Charlie Kirk Shooting Case

The FBI made public surveillance photos of a person of interest involved in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA. The shooting occurred as part of a public event in Utah Valley University on Wednesday, culminating in the search for witness information to continue their manhunt.

The FBI’s Salt Lake City office posted the two images via social media and asked for public assistance in identifying the individual seen with a baseball cap and sunglasses. The agency announced a reward for up to $100,000 for credible tips leading to an arrest for Kirk’s murder. In another statement from FBI officials, they indicated that things were happening quickly in the case and the press conference they had planned earlier in the day was postponed due to the progression of the investigation.

Law enforcement officials state that they are working “around the clock” to capture their suspect, who is believed to be of college age. As the FBI indicated, they had located what is very likely the murder weapon – a high-powered Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle – wrapped in a towel near some woods in relatively proximity to the campus. Their sources state that the weapon had a spent round chambered apparently, and that the three unfired rounds had descriptions that were “transgender and anti-fascist” ideologues. The investigators are also examining whether the markings were legit or a diversion. The weapon and ammunition were flown back to FBI headquarters in Quantico Virginia for fingerprint and DNA analysis. The search is further supported by surveillance and forensic evidence

Surveillance and Forensics Intensify Search

Law enforcement officials have fully mapped out the suspect’s movements. At 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, he was seen entering the Orem campus and then making his way up the stairwells out to the rooftop overlooking the outdoor venue where Kirk was to speak. At approximately 12:20 p.m., the suspect started shooting, hitting Kirk with a single round. After shooting, the suspect jumped off the back side of the building and then fled through a neighboring area. Investigators are sifting through doorbell camera footage and witness testimony to create further leads.

In addition to the rifle, investigators recovered the suspect’s footwear impressions, a palm print, and forearm impressions for analysis. Officials believe the shooting was a calculated act and say they are pursuing every possible avenue. “We will not accept what happened yesterday,” said Utah Public Safety Commission Beau Mason. “We are putting all resources into this and we will apprehend this person, we will.”

The FBI is also asking for tips, photographs, and video from anyone who may have been in attendance at the event or saw suspicious activity.

Trump Calls Out Political Hostility

As the manhunt continues, political leaders have also weighed in. Former President Donald Trump released a video late Wednesday, connecting the killing to the current political discourse, presumably directly; as he claimed the radical Left was using political discourse to vilify conservative voices; in this instance, had contributed by their rhetoric, fomenting violent action.

“For years, radical Leftists have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie “” to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals? ” he said. Trump called on all sides of the political spectrum to cease dehumanizing their political opponents. Trump claimed this language can lead to violence; he also did not mention other recent incidents involving Democratic lawmakers, such as shooting of two Minnesota Democrats previously this year.

As federal agents continue the manhunt for the gunman responsible for Kirk’s death, it has raised a renewed dialogue surrounding violence, extremism, and the ever-more dangerous polarization of American politics.