US authorities investigating the fatal shooting of right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk on Wednesday have released surveillance images of a man they are seeking, as President Donald Trump paid tribute to Kirk, calling him a “giant of his generation.”
Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative figure credited with helping galvanize youth support for Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, was shot while addressing a packed crowd at Utah Valley University.
The FBI described the incident as a “targeted event”, further intensifying a nation already shaken by political unrest just six months into Trump’s second term.
Authorities confirmed the gunman is still at large, having fled into nearby woodland following the attack.
“We’re doing everything we can to find him,” said FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls at a press briefing. “We’re not sure how far he’s gone, but we will do our best.”
The FBI released grainy surveillance images of a person of interest—though not yet named a suspect—and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The man, believed to be of university age, was wearing a black baseball cap, dark sunglasses, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt featuring an American flag design.
Bohls also confirmed that the presumed murder weapon—a high-powered bolt-action rifle—was recovered in a wooded area near the scene.
A ‘dark moment’ for America
In a break from standard protocol, it was President Trump—not law enforcement—who first informed the public that Kirk had died from a gunshot wound to the neck.
Speaking in a video message on social media Wednesday night, Trump called the killing a “dark moment for America,” and linked it to years of political division and inflammatory rhetoric.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers,” Trump said. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we’re seeing.”
Though the FBI has not released any motive or suspect identity, Trump went further, blaming the political left and promising a sweeping national response.
On Thursday, during remarks commemorating the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Trump again honored Kirk, calling him a “champion of liberty” and announcing that he would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the US
“Charlie was an inspiration to millions. He gave voice to a new generation of Americans,” Trump said.
Campus tragedy sparks political shockwaves
Kirk was shot mid-sentence while seated during a panel discussion. Witnesses described chaos and panic as the crowd scattered.
“It makes me feel like I should be very careful about expressing my political ideas,” said Samuel Kimball, a software engineering student at the university.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, called the killing a “political assassination.”
Supporters have hailed Kirk as a martyr for conservative ideals. Known for his combative style and media savvy, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to promote right-wing values among young voters. He amassed millions of followers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he advocated for anti-immigration policies, gun rights, and Christian conservatism, often through viral clips from campus debates.
The assassination comes amid a surge in politically motivated violence in the US Just three months ago, a Democratic lawmaker and her husband were shot dead in their Minnesota home. And in July 2024, Trump himself survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally.
Vice President JD Vance was expected to travel to Utah on Thursday to meet Kirk’s family, after canceling a planned appearance in New York to mark the 9/11 anniversary.
AFP
