What we know so far about suspect who fatally shot Charlie Kirk as FBI issues major update
The FBI has issued a huge update as they continue to investigate the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder and ally of Donald Trump was shot and killed during a college rally in Utah yesterday (10 September).
Kirk was speaking at a debate event when authorities said the assailant fired from a roof, with the bullet hitting him in the neck.
Graphic footage that's circulating on social media shows the podcaster grab his neck, which was heavily bleeding, after a single shot rang out.
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And now, just one day later following a huge manhunt, the FBI have issued an update on the situation, revealing that they have identified a possible suspect and believe they also have the weapon involved.
During a press conference, officials revealed that the sniper who assassinated Kirk is thought to have jumped off the roof and fled after firing a single shot from a high-powered rifle.
What is the FBI update on Charlie Kirk's assassination?
As of right now, the FBI are not releasing any images of the potential suspect - however, they have released some minimal details.
As reported by the BBC, Beau Mason, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said: "We were able to track the movements of the shooter starting at 11:52 am.
"This subject arrived on campus shortly away from campus."
He added: "We have tracked his movements onto the campus through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof, to a shooting location."
"After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled, off of the campus and into a neighbourhood."
Speaking of the gun police recovered from the scene, FBI agent Robert Bohls added: "I can tell you that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon to be that was used in yesterday's shooting is a high powered bolt action rifle.
"That rifle was was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. The FBI laboratory will be analysing this weapon."
The killer is believed to have blended in on the campus where Kirk was shot and appeared to be of 'college age,' police said, adding that they also have pictures of the shooter, but cannot yet reveal his face.
The special agent added: "We'll release that shortly. We're not sure how far he has gone yet."
He also confirmed that this was a 'targeted event'.
The moment Charlie Kirk was shot
After making his way onto the stage, the activist invited an attendee to converse as part of the debate event.
The student stood up in the crowd and asked him: "Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?"
"Too many," the conservative initially replied.
After telling Kirk the answer was 'five', the same audience member went on to ask how many mass shooters there had been in America over the last 10 years.
Kirk then asked, 'Counting or not counting gang violence?' in what would prove to be his final statement. A single shot was fired
After his security team rushed to his aid, Kirk was transported to hospital, while rally attendeesfled the campus in fear that the shooter was still active.
Other details of the shooting
Police originally estimated that Kirk's fatal shot had been fired from around 182m.
It was later theorised that a dark figure had been situated upon a roof of Utah Valley University, around 142m from the conservative.
And two individuals were initially arrested from the university campus, but were subsequently released, with 'no current ties' associating them with the heinous crime.
Details surrounding these two people not were been released.
Federal, state and local authorities said they were working on 'multiple active crime scenes' in the search for the killer.
What was Charlie Kirk's shooter's motive?
A motive is yet to be confirmed, along with who the killer is, as the investigation is still ongoing.
Trump, who knew Kirk well, has since blamed the 'radical left' for his killing, and it was also described.
Meanwhile, Utah Governor Spencer Cox has described it as a 'political assassination'.
Sharing a lengthy video online, the president warned that the death of the activist is a 'dark moment for America'.
He said: "It’s time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year in the most hateful and despicable way possible.
"For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals."
He warned: "This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today. And it must stop right now.
"My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organisations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement, officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country."
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, Crime, News, US News, World News
Madison Burgess