U.S. authorities investigating the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and close aide to President Donald Trump, have released photos of a man presumed to be the suspect and are urging the public to provide tips. The FBI's Salt Lake City field office posted two photos on its X (formerly Twitter) account on the 11th, requesting information that could help identify the person of interest.
The man in the photos is wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt, a black cap, and sunglasses. The FBI announced it would pay a reward of $100,000 (approximately 140 million KRW) to anyone providing key information. With authorities yet to identify the suspect, they revealed that a rifle wrapped in a towel was found in a wooded area near the Utah Valley University campus where the incident occurred.
According to the Associated Press, a spent cartridge was discovered in the chamber of the rifle, and the magazine was loaded with three live rounds. Authorities are currently analyzing the firearm and ammunition to uncover clues about the shooter's identity or motive. The shooter is believed to have fired a single shot from the rooftop of a building opposite the outdoor area where Kirk was seated, then jumped down from the roof and fled into a nearby residential neighborhood.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bo Mason stated, "The shooter appears to be college-aged and was mingling with other students on the university campus where Kirk was killed on Wednesday."President Trump, commenting on the background of Kirk's assassination the previous day, labeled the incident as 'terrorism,' saying, "For years, radical leftists have compared outstanding Americans like Charlie to Nazis, the world's worst mass murderers, and criminals."[Image Caption: A memorial space for Charlie Kirk set up at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 10th [Reuters]]However, as authorities struggle to apprehend the suspect, the motive remains unclear even 24 hours after the incident.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources familiar with the investigation, reported that phrases expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideologies were engraved on the ammunition found inside the rifle discovered by authorities. Kirk, the founder and CEO of the right-wing group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck while engaging in a Q&A session with the audience at a debate event hosted by the organization at Utah Valley University on the afternoon of the previous day.
He has been recognized as a leading young conservative figure in the U.S. and credited with making significant contributions to President Trump's re-election. President Trump announced he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, and Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Kirk's family in Salt Lake City. Vice President Vance posted a memorial message on X reminiscing about his friendship with Kirk since 2017, writing that Kirk played a pivotal role in assembling the Trump administration's second-term personnel.
Vance stated, "Much of the success this administration has achieved stems from Charlie's organizational skills and mobilization abilities," adding, "He didn't just help with the 2024 victory; he assisted in staffing the entire government."Kirk was a father of two—a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. His wife, Erika Kirk, was crowned Miss Arizona in 2012 and played women's basketball in the NCAA college league, according to U.S. media reports.
