FBI Shares New Footage of Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect as Nationwide Manhunt Intensifies
The hunt for the marksman responsible for the shocking assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk has been boosted after the FBI released fresh footage and images of the suspect.
The footage shows the man fleeing the scene following the fatal firing at Utah Valley University, and authorities are prompting the public to help in locating him.
Kirk, 31, a well-known political judge and loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump, was shot in the neck during a public event on Wednesday.
Despite frantic attempts by the security labor force, he latterly succumbed to his injuries. The murder has transferred shockwaves through conservative circles and reignited debates over political violence and law enforcement.
Grim New Evidence
At a media briefing on Thursday evening, FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials revealed video footage capturing the shooter’s escape.
The suspect was seen leaping from the rooftop where the attack occurred and sprinting across campus grounds.
“As he did that, he left some palm impressions. There were some smudges, some places we were looking to collect DNA,” said Beau Mason, Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Investigators also set up a distinctive shoe print, which Mason verified was from a Converse lurker, potentially offering another lead.
Prints released show the suspect wearing a black long-sleeved shirt with an American flag patch, dark trousers, oil footwear, a blue cap, sunglasses, and a black pack.
He was spotted moving through staircases and on rooftops before escaping the area. The FBI is offering a price of over to$ 100,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
“The FBI is offering a price of over to$ 100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the existent( s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk, ” the office posted on its sanctioned social platform, X.
FBI releases surveillance footage of Charlie Kirk suspect, offers $100K reward
Suspect seen in dark clothing with American flag shirt, sunglasses. Authorities say they have identified a name ️ut no arrest warrant issued yet
The bureau asks public to call authorities with tips pic.twitter.com/bxb49FTPw5
— Boi Agent One (@boiagentone) September 12, 2025
The Hunt for the Shooter
The manhunt is ongoing. At the time of the briefing, the suspect hadn’t been restrained. FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls, posted in Salt Lake City, described the firing as a “ targeted event.”
Authorities also recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle from a wooded area. Primary reports suggested security engraved with controversial dispatches tied to transgender and antifascist testaments, though this remains unconfirmed.
When approached about these details, an FBI spokesperson told, “As this is an ongoing investigation, the FBI declines to comment.”
A senior official later indicated that early interpretations of the ammunition markings “might turn out to have been misread or misinterpreted,”.
Further videotape analysis showed the suspect blending in with scholars, suggesting the bushwhacker planned strictly.
The man was captured arriving on the lot at 1152 a.m., moving stealthily through stairwells, and ultimately jumping off a rooftop to shirk pursuit.
Officers are now canvassing near domestic areas to gather any doorbell camera footage that may help the investigation. “We’re not sure how far he has gone yet,” admitted Robert Bohls.
Campus Lockdown and Rising Tensions
In the wake of the tragedy, Utah Valley University announced that the lot would remain unrestricted until Monday, with all classes suspended indefinitely.
Scholars and staff have been advised to stay watchful. Meanwhile, authorities have advised against the importunity of two individuals compactly detained after the attack but later released.
One of them was charged with obstruction, while the other had been named a “person of interest” but was cleared.
Trump’s Response
Speaking outside the White House, Donald Trump called the killer “an animal,” condemning the violence in blunt terms.
“He’s an animal, total animal, and hopefully they’ll have him, and they’ll get him,” Trump said, as he prepared to fly to New York.
During a remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon, Trump also announced that Charlie Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
When asked about threats to his own safety, Trump appeared dismissive. “Not really. I’m really concerned for our country.
We have a great country. We have a radical left group of lunatics out there. And we’re gonna get that problem solved,” he said.
The Event and Fallout
Kirk had been speaking at the first stop of his American Comeback Tour, aimed at energising conservative scholars. The event drew around 3,000 attendees, though it faced opposition beforehand.
Nearly 1,000 autographs were collected on an online solicitation calling for Kirk to be barred from speaking on the lot.
The university, however, defended its decision, citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”
Tragically, Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Lane Kirk, and their two children. His coffin was flown back to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.
