The gunman who fatally shot US right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk remained at large on Thursday, though authorities confirmed they had recovered a high-powered rifle and obtained clear video images of the suspect.
Kirk, 31, a prominent Republican activist credited with helping Donald Trump regain the presidency last year, was shot in the neck while speaking to a packed audience at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He collapsed in his chair and later died from his injuries.
The FBI described the incident as a targeted killing. Special Agent Robert Bohls said the suspect fled into nearby woodland, where officers later recovered the presumed murder weapon, a bolt-action rifle. Two people initially detained were released after being cleared of involvement.
The killing, which Utah’s governor Spencer Cox branded a “political assassination”, has intensified national tensions. President Trump, who first announced Kirk’s death, called it a “dark moment for America” and blamed left-wing rhetoric.
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, built a massive online following promoting conservative causes, including immigration control, Christianity and gun rights. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures on the Republican right.