The search for the gunman who fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has entered a new phase, with investigators releasing photographs of a man they believe could be tied to the attack. The images, shared by the FBI’s Salt Lake City office on Thursday, show a white man dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
He wears a hat pulled low over dark sunglasses, with his shirt carrying what seems to be a picture of the American flag. In one released image, he is seen climbing a set of stairs, his face partially obscured, but his posture and clothing captured in detail.
The FBI shared the photos while asking the public for help in identifying the individual. Officials stopped short of calling him the shooter, instead labelling him a “person of interest”.
Kirk was struck in the neck by a single round on Wednesday while seated under a tent for a campus event. Witnesses described chaos as the crowd scattered, and video later surfaced of someone sprinting across a roof moments after the shot was fired. Authorities believe that the individual could be the assassin.
Officials confirmed that the fatal bullet was fired from an older imported Mauser .30-06 calibre bolt-action rifle, which was later recovered in nearby woods. Traces of the suspect’s movements, including impressions left behind, suggest a rapid escape from campus into the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Additional reports revealed that the alleged gunman scrawled political messages on the ammunition used in the attack. According to a verified ATF bulletin circulated among agents and later shared online, the cartridges bore engravings expressing support for the transgender community alongside antifascist remarks.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of Kirk’s controversial record on transgender issues, including public statements in which he described transgenderism as “a mental disorder” and “a throbbing middle finger to God.”
Initial reports informed that police took an elderly man into custody in connection with the shooting. Footage also surfaced of the man being detained and taken away. However, FBI Director Kash Patel later confirmed the individual was questioned and released. The man seen in Thursday’s images is a separate individual now being sought by investigators.
Meanwhile, Utah Governor Spencer Cox promised that justice would be pursued fully and reminded the public that Utah still has the death penalty as an option. Additionally, President Donald Trump called Kirk a “martyr for freedom” and said he would be honoured posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
