What We Know About Charlie Kirk's Assassination

The manhunt for nan personification who shot and killed blimpish activistic Charlie Kirk remains underway Thursday, a time aft nan shocking segment astatine a Utah university.

The blimpish activist, 31, was pronounced dormant soon aft he was changeable successful nan cervix during a speaking engagement astatine Utah Valley University.

President Donald Trump, a adjacent state of Kirk's, announced nan news himself in a station connected his Truth Social.

"The Great, and moreover Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump wrote Wednesday. "No 1 understood aliases had nan Heart of nan Youth successful nan United States of America amended than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he is nary longer pinch us."

Here's what we cognize astir nan shooting.

Follow unrecorded updates here.

When was Kirk shot?

Kirk was discussing wide shootings successful nan U.S. connected Wednesday successful nan first extremity of his "American Comeback Tour" erstwhile a azygous changeable rang retired astatine astir 12:20 p.m., striking him successful nan neck.

Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said Thursday greeting nan fishy arrived astatine nan assemblage astatine 11:52 a.m. Surveillance video tracked nan shooter successful stairwells, going up to and crossed nan tile wherever nan personification revenge nan fatal shot.

The shooter past moved to nan different broadside of nan building, jumped disconnected nan tile and fled to a adjacent neighborhood, Mason said.

The infinitesimal Kirk was changeable was captured connected video from aggregate angles.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called on nan creators of societal media platforms X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to region nan "horrifying videos of Charlie Kirk's murder."

The schematic videos should beryllium taken offline, she said, adding, "No 1 should beryllium forced to relive this calamity online."

Witnesses described seeing Kirk slump backward earlier he deed nan crushed arsenic chaos erupted among arena attendees, who ran for cover.

"I saw a bunch of humor travel retired of Charlie," witnesser Justin Hickens told NBC News' Tom Llamas. "I saw his assemblage benignant of footwear backmost and spell limp, and everybody dropped to nan ground."

Another witness, Tyler McGettigan, told NBC News he was amazed that he wasn't asked to spell done information to get into nan event. He besides said nary 1 checked his summons erstwhile entering and that location were nary metallic detectors posted outside.

Kirk was whisked distant by his squad and taken to nan infirmary successful a backstage vehicle, wherever he later died.

Is location a suspect?

Officials are searching for nan personification responsible for firing nan shot.

On Thursday, officials said nan shooter appeared to beryllium college-age, but declined to springiness much details. The shooter's whereabouts remained unknown, but Mason said they are utilizing exertion to place nan shooter from video footage.

Mason said officials combed done nan vicinity wherever nan shooter fled, speaking to witnesses and asking residents for doorbell camera footage successful bid to place leads.

"We do person bully video footage of this individual. We are not going to merchandise that astatine this time," Mason said. "We are moving done immoderate technologies and immoderate ways to place this individual."

The shooter is believed to person utilized a high-powered bolt-action rifle, Robert Bohls, typical supplier successful complaint of nan FBI, said astatine nan news convention Thursday.

He said nan firearm was recovered successful a wooded area wherever nan shooter had fled. An FBI laboratory will analyse nan weapon.

Investigators person besides collected a "footwear impression, a thenar people and forearm imprints for analysis," Bohls said.

Authorities person said nan shooting was a "targeted attack" and a "political assassination."

The shooter appeared to person fired nan fatal changeable from nan rooftop of a building astir 200 yards from wherever Kirk was speaking to a crowd of thousands. The personification was wearing each achromatic and vanished aft nan shooting took place, Mason said Wednesday.

Authorities took 1 man into custody soon aft nan shooting and past released him soon after. Later successful nan evening, FBI Director Kash Patel posted connected societal media that a 2nd man had been taken into custody, but little than 2 hours later, he said nan personification was released.

"There are nary existent ties to nan shooting pinch either of these individuals," authorities said past night. They are now asking nan nationalist for tips.

The Utah Valley University field has been closed until astatine slightest adjacent week.

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Kirk was an influential blimpish activist and nan co-founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit statement that promotes blimpish governmental ideals to young people.

He often said astatine precocious schools and connected assemblage campuses, engaging successful statement pinch nan younger procreation connected topics specified arsenic weapon unit and transgender rights.

Kirk, besides a arguable podcaster, attached himself and his institution to Trump during nan 2016 election, becoming a staunch protagonist of Trump's authorities and administration. He besides made predominant appearances connected Fox News.

Kirk promoted nan thought that nan 2020 predetermination was stolen, and his group bused group to nan U.S. Capitol connected Jan. 6., 2021, erstwhile nan Capitol was stormed by Trump supporters. He was a adjacent friend of Vice President JD Vance and campaigned alongside Vance and Trump successful 2024, speaking connected nan first nighttime of nan Republican National Convention successful July 2024.