FBI Releases Images of Charlie Kirk Shooter, $100,000 Reward Offered

Lead The FBI on Thursday released surveillance images of a person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, offering a $100,000 reward as the manhunt continues.

Nut Graf Authorities say the shooter, believed to be college-aged, fired a single high-powered bolt-action rifle shot at Kirk during an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” event on Wednesday. With limited leads, officials have recovered the suspected weapon and are appealing for public tips to identify and apprehend the assailant.

Reward and Evidence

  • The FBI has authorized a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the shooter’s arrest.
  • Investigators recovered the Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle in nearby woods, wrapped in a towel, along what they believe was the suspect’s escape route.
  • Forensic teams have lifted a palm print, footwear impressions and unspent cartridges bearing politically charged inscriptions from the scene for DNA and fingerprint analysis.

Suspect Profile and Manhunt

  • Officials describe the suspect as college-aged, who blended into the campus before ascending stairwells to fire from a rooftop at approximately 12:20 p.m. local time.
  • Video footage of the individual in a baseball cap and sunglasses remains withheld pending leads, as agents “work around the clock” to track his movements.
  • Campus and neighborhood canvasses continue, with law enforcement reviewing doorbell and security camera footage from nearby residences.

Political and Community Response

  • Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the attack as a “political assassination” and pledged full support to the FBI-led investigation.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance, a close associate of Kirk, paused a trip to New York’s 9/11 commemoration to travel to Salt Lake City and meet the victim’s family on Friday.

Campus Impact and Security

  • Utah Valley University, with an enrollment of over 47,000, closed its Orem campus through Sunday as authorities secure buildings and support students and staff.
  • The university’s police chief reported no prior credible threats against Kirk, underscoring the challenge of preventing targeted attacks at large public events.

Anyone with information or footage of the shooter is urged to contact the FBI’s Salt Lake City office immediately.