The FBI in Salt Lake City has released photographs of a “person of interest” in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, urging the public to help identify the individual.
The release marks the first time authorities have published images of someone they believe may be linked to the fatal attack, which took place on Wednesday as Kirk, 31, addressed a crowd of about 3,000 at Utah Valley University.
Investigators said the suspected gunman fired a single shot from the roof of the Losee Center, striking Kirk in the neck as he sat beneath a marquee stage. Students fled the scene in panic as Kirk’s security team rushed him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
At a news conference earlier, officials confirmed they had recovered a high-powered rifle believed to have been used in the attack. Forensic teams are analysing a footwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprints found near the scene. Authorities say they have also tracked the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting.
Video footage circulating online shows a figure running across the roof of the Losee Center shortly after the shot was fired, and another angle appears to show someone lying on the rooftop during the incident. Officials have confirmed that these clips align with their ongoing investigation.
Two people, 71-year-old George Zinn, a known local disruptor, and a man believed to be Zachariah Qureshi were detained for questioning shortly after the shooting but later released. Police said both had “no current ties” to the attack, although Zinn was charged with obstruction of justice.
The FBI says it is confident in its ability to identify the shooter but has asked the public to come forward with information about the newly released images. Authorities are still treating the investigation as a manhunt, with “multiple active crime scenes” under review.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death hours after the attack, calling him “great, and even legendary.” He has since ordered flags across the United States lowered to half-mast until Sunday evening.
