A search was persevering with Thursday for the one who shot and killed Charlie Kirk at an occasion at Utah Valley College. Kirk, a distinguished conservative activist who co-founded the right-wing advocacy group Turning Level USA, was 31.
Authorities haven’t but recognized or apprehended a suspect nor specified a motive, however on Thursday officers revealed new particulars in regards to the shooter’s actions, a weapon that was recovered and the investigation.
Earlier, the Utah Public Security Division and the Salt Lake Metropolis FBI workplace posted two images of somebody they known as a “particular person of curiosity,” exhibiting a person showing to be carrying a darkish long-sleeve shirt, and a hat and sun shades.
FBI
The 2 companies launched a number of extra photographs Thursday night of the particular person of curiosity, who seemed to be on a staircase and carrying a backpack. The company didn’t disclose the place the photographs had been taken.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned authorities had obtained greater than 7,000 leads and ideas from the general public as of Thursday night, and practically 200 interviews have been carried out by investigators.
Earlier Thursday, three sources informed CBS Information that federal regulation enforcement investigators believed that they had the title of an individual of curiosity within the case. Nevertheless, late Thursday evening, the identical sources informed CBS Information that investigators had the id of an individual of curiosity they had been working with, however that lead has not panned out.
Officers took two individuals into custody Wednesday within the wake of the capturing however later mentioned neither was tied to the capturing and each had been launched.
Here’s what we all know up to now in regards to the ongoing investigation.
Suspect at giant
Authorities mentioned the suspect remained at giant Thursday and {that a} manhunt is ongoing to determine and seize the particular person accountable.
The FBI mentioned it’s providing a reward of up to $100,000 for data that leads regulation enforcement to determine and arrest the particular person or individuals concerned in Kirk’s assassination.
Two regulation enforcement sources informed CBS Information Thursday that U.S. Marshals had been helping the FBI in monitoring down the suspected shooter. The FBI stays the lead investigating company however is working with Utah officers.
Utah Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason mentioned the suspect was a male who “blended in” with the school group and seems to be “college-age.”
Mason mentioned investigators have been in a position to monitor the shooter’s actions before and after the assassination. He mentioned the gunman is believed to have arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. native time Wednesday and moved by means of stairwells to the roof of a constructing close to the place Kirk’s occasion was going down, which was the capturing location.
Mason mentioned the shooter moved to the opposite aspect of the constructing after firing a single shot, then jumped off and fled right into a neighborhood off campus. Investigators contacted householders with cameras, and witnesses, to determine leads, he mentioned.
In a information briefing Thursday night in Orem with FBI Director Kash Patel in attendance, officers launched new safety video that exhibits him operating throughout the roof after which climbing down the aspect of the constructing instantly after the capturing.
As he climbed off the sting of the constructing and dropped down, he “left some palm impressions, some smudges, some locations we’re seeking to acquire DNA,” together with a shoe print that indicated he was carrying Converse tennis footwear, Mason informed reporters whereas exhibiting the video.
“It is essential to notice his black t-shirt, his black pants, and there seems to be some white on the soles of these Converse tennis footwear,” Mason mentioned. “These are all identifiable gadgets that we’re in search of.”
After dropping off the constructing, the video confirmed the particular person of curiosity transferring throughout a grassy space earlier than getting into into visitors. Mason mentioned he crossed the road right into a wooded space, the place the firearm believed to have been used within the capturing was later discovered.
Mason had beforehand mentioned authorities “have good video footage” of the particular person of curiosity, which they hope will assist as they work to determine him.
Weapon recovered
FBI special-agent-in-charge Robert Bohls mentioned Thursday that investigators recovered a “high-powered, bolt-action rifle,” which they imagine was the weapon used within the assassination. It was present in a wooded space the place the shooter fled and will probably be analyzed by the FBI, based on Bohls.
Investigators even have a footwear impression, palm print and forearm imprints that will probably be analyzed, the FBI official mentioned.
The FBI’s Salt Lake Metropolis discipline workplace established a tip submission form the place individuals can share details about the capturing. The company mentioned it has “full assets dedicated to this investigation, together with tactical, operational, investigative and intelligence.” It’s investigating together with Utah state authorities.
A “focused assault”
Kirk was struck within the neck at round 12 p.m. native time Wednesday by a single gunshot, which the perpetrator fired as Kirk addressed a big crowd at an outside “Show Me Mistaken” debate on Utah Valley College’s campus in Orem, Utah.
The “Show Me Mistaken” debate is a trademark occasion for Kirk’s Turning Level USA, a conservative group targeted on younger individuals, the place he would maintain political debates with a gaggle that normally consisted of left-leaning attendees. Kirk had visited the Utah college as a part of a nationwide tour of faculty campuses that was scheduled to proceed for the following two months. About 3,000 individuals attended the out of doors occasion, the Utah Division of Public Security mentioned in a press release.
Whereas authorities haven’t specified a possible motive for the capturing, Mason mentioned they imagine it was a “focused assault towards one particular person.” Just one shot was fired, and Kirk was the one sufferer, based on the commissioner.
Cox known as the capturing “a political assassination,” whereas President Trump, in a video posted to Fact Social, blamed it on “radical left political violence,” which he mentioned “has damage too many harmless individuals and brought too many lives.” Mr. Trump vowed to “discover every a type of who contributed to this atrocity.” Kirk was a detailed Trump ally and was credited with galvanizing youthful voters throughout his marketing campaign.
On Thursday, Cox mentioned the state plans to hunt the demise penalty in Kirk’s homicide.
“We have been working with our attorneys, getting every thing that we want, affidavits prepared, in order that we are able to pursue the demise penalty on this case. And that may occur right here within the state of Utah,” the governor informed reporters at a Thursday night press convention.
Bohls reiterated Thursday that investigators take into account the capturing to be a “focused occasion,” and don’t imagine there are lingering dangers to the general public.
Capturing location
A map produced by CBS News’ Confirmed team exhibits the place Kirk was when he was shot — within the central courtyard of Utah Valley College, which is surrounded by campus buildings.
A college spokeswoman mentioned Wednesday they believed the shot was fired from the Losee Middle. A regulation enforcement supply informed CBS Information that the gunman appeared to have fired from the constructing’s roof.
Video verified by CBS Information exhibits an individual operating throughout the constructing’s roof within the moments after the capturing, about 400 toes from the place Kirk was talking. Authorities haven’t confirmed whether or not that particular person is linked to the assault. Drone video captured afterward exhibits police tape on the roof the place the particular person was seen.
CBS Information Confirmed 
On Thursday, Bohls of the FBI mentioned investigators had obtained over 130 ideas and that these ideas and different leads had been being “absolutely investigated.”
Joe Walsh and
contributed to this report.
