Crystal Charles
Federal investigators are still searching for the gunman who fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, with more than 24 hours passing without an arrest.
On Thursday, the FBI released surveillance photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses, and a black long-sleeve shirt with a backpack, describing them as the suspected shooter. Authorities also announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Investigators recovered a palm print, a shoe impression, and a high-powered hunting rifle abandoned in a wooded area along the shooter’s escape route. However, no suspect has been publicly identified, and officials have not disclosed a possible motive, describing the case as part of a growing wave of political violence in the United States.
Two people initially detained after the shooting were later released, shifting the investigation to a separate person of interest.
Among those who attended Kirk’s event was Vineyard resident Henry Dells, who told the Associated Press he was unsettled by what he perceived as inadequate security.
“I was looking around. I was like, I love Charlie, but I have a weird feeling that if something did happen, he would be in a very vulnerable position,” Dells said.
By Thursday, mourners had begun placing flowers and handwritten notes at a makeshift memorial in Orem, Utah, as the hunt for Kirk’s killer intensified.