An assassination attempt shocks the United States: A gunman kills activist Charlie Kirk at a university event. The FBI provides an update on the manhunt and what is known so far about the perpetrator.
Well-known right-wing conservative US activist Charlie Kirk has died following an assassination attempt. The 31-year-old Trump supporter was gunned down during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He succumbed to his injuries.
The assassination: 31-year-old Kirk was apparently shot in the neck. Videos circulating online show Kirk speaking into a microphone under a white tent bearing the words"The American Comeback." The topic of discussion is gun violence. Suddenly, a gunshot is heard. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as a large amount of blood spurts from the left side of his neck.
The shooter: The perpetrator is on the run. According to Utah state authorities, Charlie Kirk was targeted and killed with a single gunshot. The shooter shot Kirk from a rooftop. He jumped from the roof and then disappeared, the FBI announced at a press conference on Thursday. The perpetrator appears to be of college age and has"integrated well into the university community," it said.
The manhunt: The search for the perpetrator is in full swing, with the FBI and Utah police leading the manhunt. Federal police investigators reported that the murder weapon was recovered in a wooded area. The FBI stated that it was a"high-performance repeating rifle."
On Thursday, the FBI released two photos of a"person of interest," the agency said. Investigators are asking for information from the public and offering a reward of up to $100,000 for the identification of the attacker. The photos show a person wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved black shirt.
Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe told CNN:"With every passing hour, the killer is moving further away, gaining a better chance of finding shelter and support." He added that the shooter poses a grave threat."The danger posed by this individual is limitless. This is an individual who committed an extremely violent act in front of thousands of people and was able to pull it off with great skill."
Those released: Two people were briefly detained but then released. They were not suspects, but"persons of special interest," the FBI said. A video circulated on social media shortly after the incident, showing an elderly man on the ground. He was later released.
The reactions: Trump wrote on his online service "Truth Social": "The great, even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood the youth of the United States of America better or had a better feel for them than Charlie." Kirk was "loved and admired by all," "especially by me." The US President ended his post with the words: "Charlie, we love you!" In another post, Trump announced that he had ordered all American flags in the USA to be flown at half-staff until Sunday"in honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly great American patriot." In a video on Truth Social, Trump blamed the"radical left" for the attack.
You can find more reactions here .
Who was Charlie Kirk? Kirk was one of the most well-known Christian conservative activists in the United States and was close to Trump. He had his own podcast,"The Charlie Kirk Show," and reached an audience of millions on social media. At the age of 18, he founded the youth activist organization Turning Point USA, which is aimed at students and now has more than 850 campus chapters.
The organization advocates for the dissemination of right-wing conservative and evangelical views in schools and universities. Observers credit Kirk with playing a key role in the Republican effort to gain more support among young people in the US. Kirk was married to podcaster Erika Frantzve, with whom he has two young children.
