Authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding the person who fatally shot conservative political activist Charlie Kirk at an event on a Utah college campus.
The FBI and Utah police released new video late Thursday showing a person of interest fleeing the scene following the murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk
Tips from the public “are giving us our next leads,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, as authorities sought more information to aid in the intensive manhunt for the shooter that has been ongoing since Wednesday.
Newly released footage shows a person wearing sunglasses , Converse sneakers, and a black long-sleeved T-shirt with an American flag and eagle running across a rooftop before climbing over the edge of the building and dropping to the ground.
The suspect then crosses the busy street and heads into a wooded area , where police said they discovered a high-powered rifle that they believe is the weapon used to shoot Kirk.
On Thursday, the FBI shared two photos of the alleged shooter wearing the same clothing. Utah Public Safety has released other images of the suspect wearing a backpack, descending a stairwell, and easily blending into the campus, as Mason said, “he appeared to be college-aged.”
Police have new images, possible fingerprints and DNA samples.
Mason admitted that law enforcement had “no idea” whether the suspect was in Utah or had fled the area. “We are exploring leads from individuals out of state and individuals who live nearby,” he said.
Authorities said that in addition to the rifle, they have prints from a forearm, palm, and shoe, as well as forensic evidence, including possible fingerprints and DNA collected from the edge of the building from which the gunman jumped. Police have received more than 7,000 leads and clues so far , the largest number since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward.
The FBI said Thursday it is offering a reward of up to $100,000 (€92,000) for information “leading to the identification and apprehension of the individual or individuals responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox promised that prosecutors would seek the death penalty once the suspect was captured. Kirk was shot in broad daylight while responding to a question about gun violence from a Utah Valley University courtyard. The event kicked off a series of college appearances he had dubbed “The American Comeback Tour.”
His killing has drawn widespread condemnation from Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike and has renewed attention to the growing threat of political violence in the United States.
It has also sparked an outpouring of grief, including from US President Donald Trump , who said he was “concerned” about the country after the attack and vowed to find the shooter.
