Gunman in Charlie Kirk killing still at large after FBI says first suspect released from custody

A manhunt was underway late Wednesday for the killer of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier in the day by a gunman, while speaking to a crowd of several thousand people at Utah Valley University in Orem.

An initial suspect was released from custody after being interrogated by law enforcement officers, said FBI Director Kash Patel.

"The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency," Patel wrote on X.

Before the initial suspect's release, Patel had taken the unusual step of announcing on social media that the "subject" in Kirk's killing had been taken into custody. Typically, updates to high-profile investigations are delivered by local authorities or regional FBI agents at press conferences — not by the director and not on social media.

"The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody," Patel had written. "Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with @fbi. We will provide updates when able."

Patel did not identify the suspect.

A gunman fired at Kirk from a campus building 200 yards away just after noon local time, hitting him once in the neck, the university said.

Kirk, who was married with two children, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was in surgery before President Donald Trump announced his death.

"This is a political assassination," Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference.

"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," said Cox.

The governor also said a person in custody was being interviewed. "At this point, there is no information that will lead us to believe that there is a second person involved," he added.

UVU cancelled classes and told people who remained on campus to "secure in place until police officers can escort you safely off campus."

"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

"No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote.

"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"

Trump ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff through Sunday in Kirk's honor.

Kirk was the co-founder of Turning Point USA and the leader a movement aimed at young conservatives. Turning Point and several other related political organizations raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and twice helped propel Trump to the White House.

Kirk was also a personal friend to several members of the Trump family, as well as other top administration officials.

He was at Utah Valley University on Wednesday for the first stop on Turning Point's "American Comeback Tour," according to the group's website.

The event featured Kirk sitting at his "prove me wrong table," a format in which he debated people who challenged his political views.

UVU is Utah's largest public university, with nearly 47,000 enrolled students as of fall 2023.

Shortly before the shooting, Kirk tweeted about the event.

"WE. ARE. SO. BACK," Kirk wrote on X. "Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour."

Jason Chaffetz, a former Republican congressman from Utah, told Fox News that he was at the event with family, and about 2,000 or so other people, most of them students.

Kirk had been asked a question about "transgender shootings, mass shootings" right before being shot, Chaffetz said.

"As soon as this shot rang out, everybody hit the deck, and then everybody started scattering and yelling and screaming, as you might imagine," Chaffetz said. "I can't say I saw blood. I can't say I saw him get shot, but as soon as that shot went out, he fell back into his left and everybody hit the deck."

Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, tweeted a biblical verse after the shooting.

"Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," Erika Kirk wrote.

Elected officials and others from both sides of the political aisle issued statements of support for Kirk after he was shot and condolences after his death was announced.

"There is no place in our country for this kind of violence," former President Joe Biden wrote in a tweet.

"It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote, "Rest in peace to my friend, Charlie Kirk. My heart is with his loved ones at this devastating time. This inexcusable violence belongs nowhere in a civilized society. Charlie was a brave man, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a great patriot. Please join me in praying for his family and our country."

Jack Schlossberg, whose grandfather, President John Kennedy, was assassinated in November 1963, wrote on X, "Charlie Kirk was assassinated today. we are all weaker because of it. A tragedy. I am thinking of his family."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R--La., wrote, "Utterly devastating. Charlie was a close friend and confidant. He will be sorely missed by so many."

"Every political leader must loudly and clearly decry this violence. Our prayers go out to his wife and young children. May he rest in peace," Johnson wrote.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, a Democrat who was shot in the head by a gunman in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011, said, "The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends."

"Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence. Attacks against political or ideological opponents are cowardly and un-American, and must be universally condemned," Giffords said.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wrote, "It's clear Charlie was assassinated for his political views. I only hope the terrorist who killed him will be caught and justice will be swift."

"Charlie will be remembered for his kindness, his loyalty, and his devotion to America," Lutnick wrote.

Former President Barack Obama tweeted, "We don't yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,"

"Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children," Obama wrote.

Minutes after Kirk was shot, multiple people were shot in a separate attack at Evergreen High School, located west of Denver, Colorado.

A hospital spokeswoman later told NBC News that one juvenile had died from their injuries, while another was in critical condition. A third young person had been transferred to another facility in stable condition. One of those three individuals was the suspected shooter, according to law enforcement.

Kirk's slaying also comes nearly three months after a gunman killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat who previously served as speaker, and her husband Mark Hortman. That person also wounded Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.

The suspect in that case, Vance Boelter, faces pending state and federal criminal charges.

As part of Kirk's political activism, he was an outspoken advocate for Second Amendment rights.

But Kirk's previous statements about firearms took on a new cast Wednesday in the wake of his assassination.

Speaking at an April 2023 Turning Point USA event at a church in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kirk was asked how to convince gun-control proponents that it is, "important to have the right to defend ourselves and all that good stuff."

Kirk replied, "You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won't have a single gun death," according to an audio recording and transcript.

"That is nonsense. It's drivel," he said. "But ... I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational."

— CNBC's Erin Doherty contributed to this story.