News
FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk killing, offering US$100,000 reward for tip-off
The manhunt continues.
September 12, 2025, 03:12 AM
The United States FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) has released images of a person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of
Charlie Kirk, 31, a conservative youth political activist, during an event at Utah Valley University on Sep. 10, 2025.
FBI releases images
The FBI's Salt Lake City office said on
X on Sep. 11, where it shared images of an individual in a baseball cap and sunglasses seen in a stairwell: "We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University."
via
X
The FBI added that it is
offering a reward of up to US$100,000 (S$128,155) for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for Kirk's murder.
via
X
The manhunt for the suspect, who is believed to be college-aged, continues,
New York Times (
NYT) reported.
Rifle weapon recovered
The FBI also said on Thursday it has recovered a weapon believed to have been used in the deadly shooting.
According to
The Guardian, Robert Bohls, the special agent in charge of the FBI Salt Lake City field office, said: “A rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled.”
He added that the FBI laboratory would be “analysing this weapon”.
Bohls said investigators had also collected “footwear, impression, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis”.
The rifle is an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel,
ABC News reported, citing multiple law enforcement sources.
The area where the firearm was found appeared to match the suspect's route of travel, sources said.
Cartridges contained writing
Officials said they have been able to track the shooter's movements and have "good" video footage of the person.
The spent cartridge was still in the weapon's chamber, it was reported.
Three unused cartridges contained wording on them, described by some law enforcement officials as "transgender and anti-fascist" writing, according to preliminary information that agencies received
However, it remains unclear what that means.
Authorities are trying to determine if the markings were intended to misdirect them.
The FBI has taken the firearm and ammunition for DNA analysis and fingerprint impressions.
What shooter allegedly did
At 11:52am on Wednesday, the suspect arrived on the Orem campus and went through the stairwells up to the roof of a building near where the outdoors event was held, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said.
Kirk was hit by a single shot apparently to the neck at approximately 12:20pm.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Suspect fled into neighbourhood
After the shooting, the suspect travelled to the other side of the building, jumped off and fled off-campus into a neighbourhood, U.S. authorities said.
FBI seeking public info
The FBI is appealing for tip-offs from the public as the manhunt continues.
Anyone with information, photos or video from the incident are to share it with investigators.
Kirk founded the Turning Point USA organisation, which is based in Arizona, where he lived.
NYT reported that Kirk’s casket would be flown from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, the official plane of U.S. vice-presidents