Updated Sep 10, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Manhunt underway in Charlie Kirk killing after 2nd suspect released

The late Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, points as he speaks at a podium with the words "President of the United States" on it in front of the stars and blue background of the Stars and Stripes US flag. — Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, speaks ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in January. Photo: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Police are searching for the shooter in Wednesday's killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk after a second suspect was released, per an email from the Utah Department of Public Safety.

The big picture: Kirk was shot while holding his first visit of his fall campus tour, where he planned on debating students.

"The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack," according to the Utah DPS' emailed statement Wednesday evening.

Catch up quick: FBI director Kash Patel said on X earlier Wednesday that the "subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody," before saying in a later post that "the subject has been released."

Utah DPS commissioner Beau Mason said at a Wednesday afternoon briefing that a suspect was at large and that one person had been released after questioning. The "only information we have on the suspect, the possible shooter, is taken from closed-circuit TV here on campus," he said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said at the briefing that law enforcement officials had a "person of interest in custody," who was being interviewed in connection with the campus shooting.
"The investigation is ongoing, but I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law," he added. "And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state."

The latest: The Utah DPS clarified in its emailed statement that law enforcement officials "initially took in" one man as a suspect earlier Wednesday, but he was "later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police."

A second suspect "was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement," the statement added.
"There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter."

Zoom out: Authorities said Kirk was shot from 200 yards away, from a building on campus.

His event was outdoors, and attendees scrambled for cover after the gunshot rang out.
Events like the Utah one had been a hallmark of Kirk's activism and had taken him from coast to coast and even to the Oxford and Cambridge unions, historic student debating societies in England.

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Manhunt underway in Charlie Kirk killing after 2nd suspect released

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