In a significant development in the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer, the FBI and Utah law enforcement have released new surveillance footage and images showing the “person of interest” fleeing the scene. The video, released at a late-night press conference, provides the clearest look yet at the suspect’s escape, showing the individual running along a rooftop, leaping to the ground, and then disappearing into a nearby wooded area where the murder weapon was later found.
The new footage and photos are part of an aggressive campaign to identify and capture the individual responsible for the assassination of the conservative activist at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The images show a person wearing a black t-shirt with an American flag and an eagle on it, blue jeans, and a grey cap. Authorities also noted a distinct limp in the suspect’s gait as they fled the scene, a detail that could prove crucial for identification. According to Beau Mason, the Utah Public Safety Commissioner, the fatal shot was fired from the rooftop that the individual is seen running across.
The manhunt has been a massive, multi-agency effort, with more than 20 federal, state, and local law enforcement partners working on the case. Governor Spencer Cox revealed that the FBI has received over 7,000 tips and leads from the public, a number he called unprecedented since the Boston Marathon bombing. The public response has been a key part of the investigation, as authorities are using a dedicated tip line to collect photos and videos from the event that could help them piece together the timeline and identity of the shooter.
In addition to the new footage, the FBI has confirmed several key pieces of evidence. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered wrapped in a towel in the wooded area where the suspect fled. Forensic evidence, including a shoe impression and palm and forearm prints, was also collected from the rooftop, which will be vital for DNA and fingerprint analysis. The FBI has publicly stated that they believe the suspect is “college-aged,” an observation consistent with the individual’s ability to “blend in” at the university campus.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves across the nation, stoking a fierce debate about political violence and the state of American discourse. The administration has responded with a show of support for Kirk, with Vice President JD Vance personally escorting Kirk’s body on Air Force Two to his home in Arizona. President Trump has also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and has posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As the manhunt intensifies, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are under immense pressure to make an arrest. The new images and footage, combined with the recovered weapon and a $100,000 reward for information, offer a clear path forward for investigators. The public is being urged to carefully review the released images and contact the FBI with any information, as the search for the killer continues.
