The massive manhunt for the gunman who fatally shot right-wing activist Charlie Kirk entered its third day on Friday, as police released fresh images in an urgent bid to track down the suspect in a killing that has further inflamed political tensions in the United States.
Kirk, 31, was struck by a single bullet to the neck on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, where he was hosting a campus event.
Law enforcement officials say the fatal shot was fired from a rooftop nearly 200 yards away. Surveillance footage later showed a figure fleeing across the roof before jumping to the ground and escaping toward nearby trees, where investigators later recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle.
Police on Thursday unveiled images of a man they want to question in connection with the shooting. The suspect was seen wearing Converse shoes, a black baseball cap, dark sunglasses, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt decorated with a design featuring the American flag.
“We cannot do our job without the public’s help,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said at a press conference, noting that authorities have already received more than 7,000 tips. He vowed that Utah “will pursue the death penalty” once the shooter is captured.
The killing has reverberated through political and media circles. Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was a key conservative voice who built a massive following among young Americans through his outspoken advocacy on immigration, Christianity, and gun rights.
Vice President JD Vance accompanied Kirk’s body as it was flown to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two, paying respects with his hand placed solemnly on the casket.
Right-wing commentators described the killing as a direct attack on their movement. Fox News host Jesse Watters told viewers, “Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. And what are we going to do about it?”
Former President Donald Trump, however, urged calm. “Charlie was an advocate of nonviolence. That’s the way I’d like to see people respond,” he said.
Students and residents in Orem, Utah, where the shooting took place, expressed grief and shock. Hundreds gathered for a vigil Thursday night in Orem Park, holding candles, American flags, and wearing MAGA hats in memory of Kirk.
“It still feels insane that this happened,” said Jonathan Silva, 35, one of the mourners. “It’s totally surreal.”
Kirk, described by supporters as a “martyr,” leaves behind a wife and two children. His killing follows a string of politically charged attacks in the U.S., including the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota three months ago, and the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump during his campaign rally.
The FBI and local law enforcement say the manhunt remains their top priority as the nation watches closely for answers in a case that underscores America’s deepening political divides.
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