Charlie Kirk shooting suspect: When will shooter be identified? FBI's latest update

Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event over 24 hours ago. However, no suspect has been identified yet.

Published on: Sep 12, 2025, 03:34:21 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event over 24 hours ago. However, no suspect has been identified yet. CBS News cited two US officials and a law enforcement source to report that a person of interest has been identified, but no arrest warrant has been issued yet. On Wednesday, officials had arrested two separate individuals but released both of them.

A person of interest has been identified in the Charlie Kirk shooting (AP)

Kirk, a Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at the UVU campus in Orem. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. It was President Donald Trump who first announced the 31-year-old's death. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times cited law enforcement sources to report that the suspect used an older model Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle.

FBI's latest update

The FBI, meanwhile, released a pair of photos of the person believed responsible for Charlie Kirk's assassination. Investigators obtained clues, including a palm print, a shoe impression and a high-powered hunting rifle found in a wooded area along the path the shooter fled. No name has been released yet.

The photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt, as well as a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, suggested that law enforcement thought tips from the public might be needed to crack the case.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Graphic videos shared on social media captured the moment of the attack. Kirk, holding a microphone, was addressing the crowd when a gunshot rang out. He clutched at his neck as blood streamed from the left side.

In the aftermath, tributes poured in from Republican leaders. Trump announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, are in Salt Lake City to meet Kirk’s family.

Vance, reflecting on their friendship in a post on X, recalled first connecting with Kirk in 2017 and staying close through his Senate campaign and beyond. He said they prayed together often and that Kirk was instrumental in shaping Trump’s second administration.

“So much of what we’ve accomplished traces back to Charlie’s talent for organizing and bringing people together,” Vance wrote. “He wasn’t just central to winning in 2024—he was critical in helping us staff the government itself.”

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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