Topline<\/p>\n
A suspect in the killing of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk is now in custody, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed early Friday morning, following a nearly two-day long manhunt conducted by federal and Utah state authorities (Related: What We Know About Alleged Shooter Tyler Robinson<\/a>.)<\/p>\n A combination of images provided provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows a person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.<\/p>\n Associated PressTimeline<\/p>\n 10:10 a.m. EDTUtah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed in a press conference Friday morning that a suspect named Tyler Robinson has been detained.<\/p>\n 9:30 a.m. EDTThe suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, according to multiple<\/a> reports<\/a> citing people with knowledge of the investigation.<\/p>\n 9:15 a.m. EDTTrump said he would attend a funeral next week for Kirk, \u201cwho should not be having a funeral right now,\u201d when asked about his scheduled trip to the U.K. from Sept. 16-18.<\/p>\n 9 a.m. EDTWhile appearing on Fox and Friends, Trump said<\/a> \u201cI think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump said authorities acted after receiving a tip from a minister who recognized the suspect from the images released by law enforcement.<\/p>\n The president said he believed the suspect\u2019s father was also involved in arrest, but added that this information was still preliminary and the details could change. <\/p>\n September 12, 4 a.m. EDTIn a series of posts on social media on Thursday night, Pentagon leaders warned members of the military against sharing any posts celebrating or mocking Kirk\u2019s assassination, although it is unclear if this was triggered by any specific posts.<\/p>\n Sean Parnell, the Defense Department\u2019s top spokesperson, first wrote on X<\/a>: \u201cIt is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American. The Department of War has zero tolerance for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth then reshared<\/a> the post, adding \u201cWe are tracking all these very closely \u2014 and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n Similar posts were also made by the Secretaries of the Army<\/a>, Navy<\/a> and Air Force<\/a>, noting that such posts are deemed contrary to the services\u2019 values and any personnel making such posts will \u201cbe dealt with swiftly and decisively.\u201d<\/p>\n 1:30 a.m. EDTState lawmakers in Utah called for a de-escalation of tensions after several Democratic leaders received angry phone calls demanding that they \u201cleave the f\u2014ing state,\u201d Salt Lake City Fox affiliate KSTU reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero, a Democrat, told KTSU the tone of the calls were \u201cthreatening\u201d and added the frequency of these types of calls has risen in recent years \u201cbut I think we can tone it down if we all work together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve got to tone down the rhetoric whether it’s on social media or even the media themselves, in some cases, that fuel this type of fire and passion in people, no matter on what side they’re on,\u201d Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, told the outlet.<\/p>\n 12:30 a.m. EDTMultiple home surveillance cameras captured a person matching the shooting suspect\u2019s description walking through a neighborhood close to the Utah Valley University campus a short while before the incident, CNN<\/a> and TMZ<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The video published by the two outlets appears to show a person dressed in all black clothing walking through a neighborhood with a slight limp, but authorities have not yet verified if the person appearing in these surveillance video is the suspect in question.<\/p>\n 11 p.m. EDTIn an interview<\/a> with NBC News, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said authorities have \u201cno idea\u201d if the shooter is still in Utah, adding that \u201cWe\u2019re exploring leads for individuals out of state and individuals that live close by.\u201d<\/p>\n 10:30 p.m. EDTIn a press conference, authorities shared<\/a> security camera footage<\/a> of the gunman running across a roof and jumping down from a building before leaving the Utah Valley University campus.<\/p>\n Mason said investigators found palm impressions, smudges and a shoe imprints of the suspect and are hoping to collect to some DNA evidence.<\/p>\n Utah Gov. Spencer Cox then made a plea for information on the matter, saying: \u201cWe cannot do our job without the public\u2019s help,\u201d before noting \u201cwe have received more than 7,000 leads and tips.\u201d<\/p>\n The governor added: \u201cWe\u2019ve been working with our attorneys, getting everything that we need\u2026affidavits ready so that we can pursue the death penalty in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n Cox also warned: \u201cWhat we\u2019re is seeing is our adversaries want violence\u2026Bots from Russia, China and all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence,\u201d before adding \u201cI would encourage you to ignore those, to turn off those streams and to spend a little more time with our families.\u201d<\/p>\n 12 p.m. EDTThe FBI\u2019s field office in Salt Lake City released the first photos<\/a> of a person of interest being sought in the case, showing what appears to be a man in dark clothing, a t-shirt with an American flag, a hat, and sunglasses.<\/p>\n 10:20 a.m. EDTInvestigators found ammunition engraved with \u201cexpressions of transgender and antifascist ideology\u201d in a magazine alongside the recovered weapon, the Wall Street Journal<\/a> reported citing a law enforcement bulletin and a source familiar with the investigation, while CNN<\/a> reported they contained \u201cphrases related to cultural issues.\u201d However, a law enforcement source later told The New York Times<\/a> that the findings, from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms report, had not been verified by the agency\u2019s analysts and could have been misinterpreted.<\/p>\n 10 a.m. EDTWhile speaking at a 9\/11 memorial at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump announced he would posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors from the U.S. government. \u201cCharlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,\u201d Trump said at the ceremony, adding \u201cwe miss him greatly.\u201d<\/p>\n 9:15 a.m. EDTThe suspected shooter appeared \u201cof college age\u201d and \u201cblended in well with the institution,\u201d Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said at a press conference on Thursday. The suspect arrived at the campus around 11:52 a.m. MDT, and fled by jumping off a building and running into a nearby neighborhood, police say, while FBI Special Agent in charge Robert Bohls said investigators recovered a \u201chigh powered, bolt-action rifle\u201d in a \u201cwooded area where the shooter had fled.\u201d Bohls also said they recovered a \u201cfootwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis,\u201d and received over 130 tips related to the incident. Mason also asked the public not to harass the individuals who were previously questioned in the case, adding \u201cthese individuals were not suspects, they were people of interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Thursday, 7:50 a.m. EDTVice President JD Vance will visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to visit with Kirk\u2019s family, cancelling his previous plans to visit a 9\/11 memorial in New York, the Associated Press<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n 10:15 p.m. EDTThe FBI put out a statement<\/a> on social media, urging people with \u201cinformation, photos, and video from the incident\u201d to come forward and share these materials on the agency\u2019s tip line.<\/p>\n 9:04 p.m. EDTThe Associated Press<\/a> reported just after 9 p.m. EDT, citing an unnamed law enforcement official, that authorities were searching for a new person of interest, while The New York Times<\/a> also reported no one remained in custody.<\/p>\n 7:59 p.m. EDTFBI Director Kash Patel, who said a \u201csubject for the horrific shooting\u201d was in custody as of 6:21 p.m. EDT, provided an update in a 7:59 p.m. EDT tweet<\/a>, saying the person \u201chas been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.\u201d According to the New York Times<\/a>, this individual was the second person detained and later released by law enforcement authorities after questioning.<\/p>\n 6:30 p.m. EDTUtah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference that \u201cWe have a person of interest in custody,\u201d after Patel said a \u201csubject\u201d was taken into custody. \u201cThe only information we have on the possible shooter is taken from closed-circuit TV here on campus,\u201d Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said. \u201cIt is security camera footage, so you can guess what the quality of that is,\u201d Mason noted, saying the suspected shooter was \u201cdressed in all dark clothing, but we don\u2019t have much better description other than that.\u201d Authorities previously took another person into custody, Mason said, \u201cbut he was released from custody after we identified that he did not match the shooting suspect\u2014he was not an accurate person of interest,\u201d though he was booked for obstruction of justice.<\/p>\n 5 p.m. EDTPresident Donald Trump announces Kirk\u2019s death in a Truth Social post<\/a>: \u201cThe Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,\u201d Trump wrote, later noting<\/a> he ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast until Sunday at 6 p.m. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Kirk, also confirmed his death to The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3:16 p.m. EDTUVU confirms the shooting took place and Kirk was \u201ctaken from the location by his security.\u201d The Associated Press later reported he was hospitalized in critical condition. The university closed its campus and canceled classes after the shooting, instructing students to \u201cleave campus immediately\u201d and \u201cfollow police instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n 2:10 p.m.Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a bullet strike Kirk in the neck while speaking before a crowd, while others show people rushing out of a courtyard. The shooter fired from a campus building about 200 yards away, a spokesperson for the university confirmed to CNN<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wednesday, 2 p.m. EDTKirk was speaking at an event for his \u201cAmerican Comeback Tour,\u201d and his organization was scheduled to host a \u201cProve Me Wrong Table\u201d session at the Orem, Utah, campus on Wednesday at 12 p.m. MDT (2 p.m. EDT).<\/p>\n Flowers rest next to a sign for Timpanogos Regional Hospital after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reservedWhat Have We Learned About The Shooter\u2019s Weapon?<\/p>\n Earlier on Thursday, FBI official Robert Bohls said investigators recovered a \u201chigh-powered, bolt-action rifle\u201d from a wooded area near the location of the shooting. Citing unnamed law enforcement sources, the New York Times reported<\/a> that the gun has been identified as an older German-made Mauser rifle. Bolt-action rifles can only fire one shot at a time before needing to be rechambered, but despite their slow rate of fire they are used by snipers and hunters for their long range and accuracy. The roof where the gunman allegedly fired from is around 140 yards from where Kirk was seated. <\/p>\n Joe Rogan And Others React To Kirk\u2019s Death On Thursday<\/p>\n Podcaster Joe Rogan reacted to Kirk’s death while hosting an episode of his podcast<\/a> that aired on Thursday, which featured actor Charlie Sheen as his guest. Midway through the show, Rogan appeared shocked as he learned about the shooting and said: \u201cSo this just happened, we just found out that Charlie Kirk got shot.\u201d Rogan then added, \u201cThere’s going to be a lot of people celebrating this. It’s so scary. It’s so dangerous, too, to celebrate or in any way encourage this kind of behavior from human beings. He’s not a violent guy. He’s talking to people on college campuses. Wasn’t even particularly rude, tried to be pretty reasonable with people.\u201d Hunter Kozak, the Utah Valley University student who was asking Kirk about mass shootings just before he was shot, also expressed shock about the killing while noting that he disagreed with Kirk on \u201cvirtually everything.\u201d He told the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, \u201cI wanted to have a conversation with him about how he was unfairly targeting transgender individuals.\u201d The New York Times identified<\/a> Kozak as a \u201cliberal TikToker with a small audience.\u201d<\/p>\n How Did People React On Wednesday Night?<\/p>\n In Utah, several people gathered for a vigil outside the Timpanogos Regional Hospital, the hospital where Kirk was taken after the shooting, where they placed American flags, lit candles and put flowers in front of the hospital sign. The Reagan Foundation on Wednesday night announced<\/a> on its website that it was postponing a planned interaction and book signing with Ben Shapiro, noting: \u201cOur prayers are with Charlie Kirk\u2019s family and friends. As a mark of respect, we are cancelling our program and book signing.\u201d While appearing on CNN on Wednesday night, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addressed the heated exchanges that took place on the House floor following a moment of silence for Kirk, noting: \u201cThe emotion was very high in the room…And that started a debate and people felt like it was being politicized.\u201d MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after his comments on Kirk\u2019s assassination, where he described the conservative activist as \u201cone of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.\u201d<\/p>\n Crucial Quote<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a political assassination,\u201d Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference. \u201cCharlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and a dad to two young children. He was also very much politically involved, and that\u2019s why he was here on campus. Charlie believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and persuade people.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump Urges Prayer As Others React To Shooting<\/p>\n Trump in a video statement<\/a> lauded Kirk\u2019s work as a conservative activist, saying rhetoric from the \u201cradical left\u201d is \u201cdirectly responsible for the terrorism that we\u2019re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now.\u201d The president said in an earlier Truth Social post<\/a>, \u201cWe must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!\u201d Vice President JD Vance echoed<\/a> the president\u2019s call for prayers, calling Kirk a \u201cGenuinely good guy and a young father.\u201d Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said<\/a>, \u201cMy heart goes out to Charlie, those in attendance, and their families.\u201d Gov. Spencer J. Cox, R-Utah, emphasized<\/a> \u201cviolence has no place in our public life,\u201d adding those responsible for the shooting will be held \u201cfully accountable.\u201d The governor also called for Americans \u201cof every political persuasion\u201d to \u201cunite in condemning this act.\u201d Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted<\/a> \u201cThe attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.\u201d Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., wished Kirk a full recovery and said<\/a>, \u201cIt does not matter which side you are on. There is simply no place for political violence in this country.\u201d Tesla chief and former special government employee Elon Musk initially reacted to the shooting with a tweet<\/a> saying \u201cThe Left is the party of murder.\u201d The billionaire said in a follow-up post he hoped \u201cCharlie makes it somehow.\u201d The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called for prayers and held a moment of silence<\/a> for Kirk during a meeting.<\/p>\n What Do We Know About How The Shooting Unfolded?<\/p>\n Kirk was shot around 20 minutes after he first started speaking at the event on Wednesday afternoon. Kirk was sitting on a stage under tent that was adorned by the his \u201cAmerican Comeback Tour\u201d and \u201cProve Me Wrong\u201d banners while the shot was fired. Videos from bystanders appeared to capture on person running across a rooftop of a nearby building on the campus, called the Losee Center, located around 140 yards<\/a> from the stage were Kirk was speaking from. Authorities said the only information they have on the suspect is from the college campus\u2019 security camera footage. They believe he was dressed in dark clothing and the shot was fired from the campus \u201cpotentially…a longer distance shot from a roof.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Did A Shouting Match Break Out In Congress After Kirk\u2019s Death?<\/p>\n A clash erupted<\/a> between Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday shortly after the floor observed a moment of silence for Kirk\u2019s death. Right after the moment of silence, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., called for a verbal prayer, adding: \u201cI believe silent prayer gets silent results.\u201d When Democrats protested and asked about the victims of a school shooting in Colorado earlier on Wednesday, a shouting match broke out. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who had worked with Kirk in the past, yelled at the Democrats: \u201cYou all caused this.\u201d This prompted Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., to reply, \u201cPass some gun laws.\u201d This prompted an intervention from the speaker, who banged his gavel multiple times. <\/p>\n Who Is Charlie Kirk?<\/p>\n Kirk, 31, is a right-wing political activist and co-founder of the Turning Point USA nonprofit that promotes far-right policies and politics on high school and college campuses. He founded the organization at the age of 18 in 2012 along with Illinois businessman William Montgomery, who died in 2020. Kirk, a prominent voice in culture wars on college campuses, hosts a daily radio show and podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, which ranks among the top 10 on Apple News\u2019 list of top podcasts and has a strong Gen Z fan base. Turning Point USA runs the Professor Watchlist website to \u201cexpose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom,\u201d the website says. Turning Point USA formed a political action committee, Turning Point Action, in 2019 to back Republican candidates. Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have spoken at multiple Turning Point conferences and Kirk spoke at both the 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions. The PAC launched a $100 million voter outreach campaign in key swing states last year to target young Trump voters.<\/p>\n What Was Kirk Speaking About When He Was Shot?<\/p>\n Kirk was participating in a \u201cProve Me Wrong\u201d event, which he advertised on social media<\/a> as an opportunity for liberals to ask him questions. He has done these on college campuses in the past, and most feature debates with audience members who line up to challenge him on hot button issues, often recorded for videos posted on his YouTube<\/a> page. Moments before the shooting, an audience member asked him how many recent mass shootings were conducted by transgender shooters. \u201cToo many,\u201d Kirk said, according to video recordings of the incident. The audience member then followed up: \u201cDo you know how many mass shooters there have been in America in the last 10 years?\u201d. \u201cCounting or not counting gang violence?\u201d Kirk asked in response. The shooting took place before the debate could go any further.<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n