Charlie Kirk greets the crowd during the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. in December 2024.
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The FBI and Utah officials have released a new video showing the suspect fleeing the scene of the crime – running across the roof and dropping over the edge before entering a wooded area
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A black T-shirt with an American flag and Converse shoes are highlighted as “distinctive” features of the suspect who killed Charlie Kirk, a key ally of President Trump
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Authorities say they are gathering the evidence needed to pursue the death penalty for the suspect
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There is no suspect yet in custody, but sources say police have got the name of a “person of interest” – the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information
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A high-powered rifle was found in woods near the shooting
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We now have police audio shortly after the shooting – while our Verify team has looked for clues in the pictures released by the FBI
Charlie Kirk fielded questions from students and community members in a signature “change-my-mind”-style forums at college campus events in the US
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Watch: New clues in hunt for Charlie Kirk’s killerpublished at 08:16
The FBI has released new footage showing the suspect in the killing of US activist Charlie Kirk running across a roof – from where the fatal shot was fired – before dropping to the ground and crossing a road.
As the authorities continue their search, BBC Verify’s Nick Beake has been looking at the footage and what we know about his escape.
Media caption, BBC Verify: New clues in hunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer
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If you’re just joining us nowpublished at 08:00
Image source,ReutersIt’s just past 23:00 in Utah – if you’re just joining us now, here are the latest developments.
- The FBI held a short press conference a few hours ago, where they released a new video of the suspect fleeing the scene of the shooting
- The suspect was wearing Converse shoes and a “distinctive” black t-shirt with an American flag and eagle, which the FBI highlighted as key details that could lead to identifying the suspect
- Officials said they believe the suspect is of “college-age” and have recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle – an imported Mauser. 30-06 bolt-action rifle – which they believed was used in the shooting
- The governor added that authorities were gathering the evidence needed to “pursue the death penalty”
- Charlie Kirk’s casket was flown from Utah to Arizona on Air Force Two – the vice-president’s aircraft – with the Vice-President JD Vance on board
- The police department have said that multiple leads are being investigated but that no suspect has been caught yet
- Vigils were held across the US on Thursday evening to commemorate Kirk, who was an influential conservative activist
Stay with us as we bring you the latest.
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Vigils commemorating Kirk held across the USpublished at 07:37
People across the US have on Thursday evening been attending vigils in memory of Charlie Kirk.
At Orem City Center Park, Utah – a short drive from the university campus where Kirk was fatally shot – crowds gathered, lighting candles and waving flags as a way of paying their respects.
Image source,Reuters
Image source,Reuters
Image source,ReutersOthers gathered outside the mortuary in Phoenix, Arizona where the body of Charlie Kirk has been delivered.
Image source,ReutersAnd in Florida, memorials were held on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Image source,Reuters -
Shooter was ‘probably a hunter’, former FBI agent tells BBCpublished at 07:07
Former FBI agent Dennis Franks spoke to the BBC News Channel earlier, and said that he believed the shooter was likely a hunter.
“It required a lot of confidence to be able to take the shot, to execute and hit where it did,” he told the BBC, explaining that the distance of the shooting would not be challenging for an experienced shooter.
While “anyone could go down to a rifle range and train with a scope”, the former FBI agent said it was a combination of the area and the “confidence” of the gunman that suggested to him that the person who shot Charlie Kirk could be a hunter.
“I tend to think from a behavioural standpoint that he acted alone,” he said.
He urged people to be patient, and reiterated that he was confident that the shooter would be identified, after which it would “be a matter of finding him”.
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‘Great confidence’ that FBI will find shooter, ex-senior official tells BBCpublished at 06:43
Chris Piehota, a retired FBI executive assistant director, was speaking to the BBC’s Newsday programme a while ago.
He said the FBI was likely still in the stage of gathering and analysing data from the shooting – including footage from personal devices, surveillance footage and audio clips.
He said he’s “confident” that they would catch the shooter.
“I am confident that the FBI is one of the best man-hunting organisations in existence,” Piehota said, adding that the FBI has “massive resources” to “aggregate and analyse” information – and similar processes were used during the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.
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Last student who debated with Charlie Kirk in Utah: ‘It’s a tragedy’published at 06:10
Shortly before FBI released a fresh video showing the escape of the suspected shooter, the last student who asked Charlie Kirk a question during the campus debate spoke out on social media.
In a video on Instagram, Hunter Kozak, a current student of Utah Valley University, says: “You sick… psychos that think this is the answer – it’s not.”
At the debate, Kozak was asking Kirk a question about gun violence moments before the gunshot rang out.
“I’m on the record with how much I disagree with Charlie Kirk but like, man dude, he is still a human being. Have we forgotten that?” Kozak says.
“People have obviously pointed to the irony that the point I was trying to make is how peaceful the left was right before he got shot – and that only makes sense if we stayed peaceful.”
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In photos: Suspect fleeing the scene moments after killing Kirkpublished at 05:46
Authorities have just released a new video of the suspect fleeing the scene, which you can watch here.
Here are some stills from that video showing his movements inside the campus:
Image source,FBIImage caption, The suspect can be seen running across the roof of the building from which the fatal shot was fired
Image source,FBIImage caption, The suspect climbs down the side of the building
Image source,FBIImage caption, The suspect then flees the scene on foot
Image source,FBIImage caption, The suspect (wearing a black t-shirt) then crosses the street into a wooded area
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Watch: Officials release new video of suspect fleeing the scenepublished at 05:18
BreakingEarlier we mentioned that authorities have released a new video of the suspect fleeing the scene.
Here’s a look at what we saw:
Media caption, Watch: Officials release new video of Kirk shooting suspect fleeing the scene
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What we learnt from the press conferencepublished at 05:16
It was a short press conference in the end – lasting only about 10 minutes. Officials didn’t take any questions from attending journalists and FBI Director Kash Patel did not speak at the press conference.
Image source,FBIHere’s a summary of the main developments:
- Officials have released a new video of the suspect, where he can be seen running across the roof of the building from which the fatal shot was fired and fleeing the scene
- The suspect was wearing sunglasses, Converse shoes and a “distinctive” black t-shirt with an American flag and eagle
- Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason showed “enhanced” photographs of the suspect, and said public tips “are giving us our next leads”
- Law enforcement has received more than 7,000 tips so far, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said – the largest number the FBI has received since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013
- Cox warned there is a “tremendous” amount of misinformation circulating online and urged people not to share it. He said Russian and Chinese bots were playing a role in its spread
- He added there is “a lot of forensic evidence” being processed, and that authorities are gathering the evidence needed to “pursue the death penalty”
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Authorities gathering evidence to pursue death penaltypublished at 05:09
BreakingGovernor Cox says that there is “a lot of forensic evidence that is being processed right now” in both state and federal labs.
“More than anything, we are going to catch this person,” he adds.
Authorities are gathering all the evidence needed to “pursue the death penalty in this case”, he says. “That will happen here in the state of Utah.”
He ends his speech – and the press conference – by thanking the public for their prayers.
“I know we are feeling those prayers, I know the Kirk family is feeling those prayers as well,” he says. “We pray that God will bless our nation at this very dark time.”
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Governor warns of misinformationpublished at 05:06
Governor Cox said there is a “tremendous” amount of misinformation circulating online and urged people not to share it further.
In reference to Kirk, Cox said: “I think Charlie said it best, that when things get bad we should put our phones down and spend time with our families.”
“Our adversaries want violence,” Cox added, claiming that Russian and Chinese bots on social media are playing a role in spreading false information.
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Utah governor: Law enforcement has received more than 7,000 tipspublished at 05:02
Utah Governor Spencer Cox continues by saying that they cannot do their job without the support of the public.
So far, more than 7,000 leads and tips have been submitted by the public – the largest number the FBI has received on an incident since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, says Cox.
He adds more than 200 interviews have so far been completed – and encourages the public to continue to send any photo or video information to the FBI.
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Suspects wearing ‘distinctive’ shirt, backpack and cappublished at 04:59
Mason is now describing “enhanced” still photographs of the suspect, asking people to pay attention to his “distinctive” T-shirt, black backpack and cap with a triangle logo.
“We just ask for the public’s cooperation. Through the public, the tips that have been coming in … are giving us our next leads and enabling us to continue to further this investigation,” he said.
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Suspect seen running across roofpublished at 04:58
The video opens with a frame of the building from which the shot that killed Kirk was fired.
A figure dressed in black is seen running across the roof to a corner of the building, where they climb over the edge and drop to the grass beneath, before walking to a nearby road and crossing it to enter a “wooded area”.
Authorities say the suspect was wearing sunglasses, Converse shoes and a “distinctive” black T-shirt with an American flag and an eagle.
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Utah governor sharing video of suspectpublished at 04:55
Utah Governor Spencer Cox begins the press conference by saying that they will share a video of the suspect, as well as explaining still images that have already been released.
He adds that they are showing this information to “get help from the public” to find the “evil human being”.
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FBI press conference to begin shortlypublished at 04:37
FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials are due to appear for a press conference shortly.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest – and you can view it by clicking the Watch Live button at the top of this page.
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Charlie Kirk’s casket arrives in Phoenixpublished at 04:25
While we’re waiting for the FBI press conference to begin shortly – which you can view by clicking the Watch Live button at the top of this page – we can show you photos of Charlie Kirk’s casket being offloaded Air Force Two in Phoenix, Arizona.
As we reported a short while ago, Vice-President JD Vance was also onboard the roughly one-hour flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Phoenix.
Image source,Reuters
Image source,Reuters
Image source,Reuters
Image source,ReutersImage caption, US Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha accompanied Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika on Air Force Two
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Watch: BBC reporter in Utah universitypublished at 04:10
BBC’s Nada Tawfik has been reporting from Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was shot dead.
Here’s her latest report from the campus. Have a watch:
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FBI chief, Utah governor to hold news conference soonpublished at 03:57
BreakingFBI Director Kash Patel will hold a news conference at 19:30 local time in Utah (02:30 BST), in just over 30 minutes.
The press conference will also be attended by FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason.
Stay with us as we bring you the key developments.
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More images of ‘person of interest’ releasedpublished at 03:33
BreakingUtah Public Safety has just released more photos of the “person of interest” in connection with the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
We can now show you these images:
Image source,Utah Public Safety
Image source,Utah Public Safety
Image source,Utah Public Safety
Image source,Utah Public Safety
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