Manhunt for Kirk Shooter: FBI, Police Search for Suspect
The manhunt for Kirk shooter continues. Authorities are searching for a college-aged suspect. The suspect shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university event in Utah. Furthermore, police and the FBI are cooperating on the case. They describe it as a “targeted event.” Consequently, the search has become a national effort. It has also sparked a debate about political violence.
The FBI has released two images of a person of interest. Investigators also recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle from nearby woods. They believe it was the murder weapon. On the weapon, authorities found a forearm and palm print. They also have good video footage of the suspect. However, they are not yet releasing the footage. They will not name a suspect at this time. This is a critical step in the ongoing manhunt for Kirk shooter.
Authorities have already dismissed previous suspects. For example, one video showed an older man being detained by police. That encounter was unrelated. Similarly, another video falsely identified a man in Santa Monica as the suspect. The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that was not the case. A woman in Washington state had her photo stolen. People falsely identified her as the shooter on social media. She was, in fact, in Seattle at the time of the shooting.
Political leaders across the country have condemned the killing. For instance, Utah Governor Spencer Cox called it a “political assassination.” President Donald Trump blamed the “radical left” for the attack. He said Kirk was a “martyr of truth.” Senator Elizabeth Warren pushed back on Trump’s rhetoric. She said his words contribute to violence. Meanwhile, other survivors of political attacks also spoke out. They all condemned the violence. In addition, threats have been made against several Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A bomb threat was also made against the Democratic National Committee.
This political violence has been accelerating. According to a University of Maryland researcher, politically motivated attacks doubled in the first six months of 2025. This shows a disturbing trend. Experts say the US is reliving its worst era of political assassinations from the 1960s. That is what Professor William Lawrence says. He is a political science professor. He says perpetrators now target individuals. They previously targeted government buildings. This is a significant shift in political violence.
Source: Al Jazeera Staff
