The 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was giving a presentation at Utah Valley University when he was shot in the neck.

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UPDATE 9:15 a.m. ET press conference:

-The two people of interest taken into custody in connection with the shooting have faced harassment and threats since being cleared and released

-Investigators have tracked the movements of the shooter: watching them arrive to campus, walk through the stairwells, and to the roof (the shooting location), during the shooting, then jumping off the roof and running into nearby neighborhoods

-Investigators are not releasing any details about the individual aside from saying they appear to be college aged and "blended in well in a college community"

-Investigators canvassed those neighborhoods Wednesday night to collect doorbell footage and say they have video of the suspect that is "good quality," and they are confident in their ability to identify the suspect without releasing it to the public right now; if they are unable to identify and locate the suspect, they plan to release the video to the media

-The FBI Special Agent in Charge said agents recovered a weapon they believe was used in the shooting in a wooded area near the campus and it is now being analyzed at the FBI lab

Thursday morning, investigators are searching for a new person of interest in the fatal shooting of young conservative Charlie Kirk. Two people taken into custody in the hours after the shooting to be interviewed, have since been cleared in the crime, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

Investigators have said Kirk was killed by a single shot, in what appears to be a targeted attack. The shooting happened during an outdoor event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University.

Details about a new possible suspect have been limited. Investigators said according to closed circuit surveillance video, the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away.

“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Wednesday. “I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”

Kirk co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. Kirk said the mission of the organization is to empower young activists to get involved in the fight for free markets and limited government, through building a strong campus network.

Local ties

Turning Point USA had chapters at Western Kentucky University, The University of Louisville and University of Kentucky.

The Western Kentucky Chapter hosted Kyle Rittenhouse in March of last year.

The University of Louisville chapter appeared to be recruiting new members earlier this year.

The University of Kentucky chapter appeared to be the most active, according to the organization's social media.

Kentucky political reaction

“The news out of Utah is horrific. There is no place for political violence in our country. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and his family.”, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell posted on social media.
Governor Andy Beshear shared on social media, “I strongly condemn the senseless attack on Charlie Kirk today. Political violence has no place in the United States of America. It further tears our country apart and sets us back versus moving us forward. Violence is always wrong. Period.”
“The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a national disgrace, a national tragedy, and a wake up call for America. Enough is enough. I continue to pray for Charlie’s family during this unspeakable tragedy”, KY Representative Andy Barr shared on X.

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Shay McAlister
Shay McAlister

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