Investigators released two images of the person and appealed for tips to help solve the shooting of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters.

The unidentified suspect is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot, authorities said Thursday. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack was recovered, and video recordings of the person they believe was responsible are being reviewed.

Kirk’s assassination renews attention to escalating threats of political violence in the United States that cut across the ideological spectrum. His killing is drawing bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence appears elusive.

The Latest:

Suspect appears to be wearing shirt from disabled veterans group

Photos released by law enforcement show the suspect in a black long-sleeve T-shirt featuring an American flag, an eagle and the words “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.”

Joe VanFonda, the CEO of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, said Thursday the Maryland-based non-profit had received a handful of calls from people who said the man appears to be wearing one of the group’s shirts.

He says the shirt was mailed to supporters of the foundation and it’s never been for sale. The group had shipped out thousands of shirts with the same logo to its donor list, but that a more limited number were distributed in black with long sleeves since 2023. He added that most of their group’s donors were over 60.

VanFonda is a retired Marine and said his group is non-partisan and steers clear of politics.

He says his organization had not been contacted by law enforcement.

Matthew Dowd’s firing begins flood of people facing consequences for their comments on Kirk’s death

The MSNBC political analyst, who lost his job shortly after on-air comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, was the first of many individuals to face consequences Thursday for public statements or posts about the shooting.

Several conservative activists have sought to identify social media users whose posts about Kirk they viewed as offensive. Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer said she would try to ruin the professional aspirations of anyone who celebrated Kirk’s death.

Both MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler and Dowd apologized for the remarks made shortly after the shooting which Kutler called “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”

The rush to police commentary appeared to have little precedent in other recent examples of political violence, such as the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, or the shooting deaths earlier this year of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband Mark.

FBI director and Utah governor to hold news conference

FBI Director Kash Patel and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox are due to hold a news conference on the investigation into the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

They’ll be joined by Robert Bohls, the FBI special agent in charge at the Salt Lake City field office, and Beau Mason, Utah’s public safety commissioner.

The news conference is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem.

The FBI chief is at the shooting scene in Utah this evening

FBI Director Kash Patel has gone to the scene of Charlie Kirk’s shooting in Utah.

The FBI chief was spotted this evening standing and talking in a circle of others near the canopy tent where Kirk was gunned down Wednesday during an appearance before thousands at Utah Valley University.

The FBI earlier announced a reward offer of up to $100,00 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for Kirk’s killing. The agency also released photos of a potential suspect, taken from security cameras in the area, which showed a man wearing sunglasses, a black hat and a black long-sleeve shirt.

Green Bay Packers hold moment of silence for Kirk

The Packers are playing the Washington Commanders Thursday night, one day after Kirk was assassinated.

Before the moment of silence, a public-address announcer delivered an anti-violence message from the NFL.

“The National Football League asks that you please join us in a moment of silent reflection following the murder of Charlie Kirk. The NFL condemns all violence in our communities. It will take all of us to stop hate,” the announcer said.

A tribute to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks also was held before the game.

Supporters wave American flags as Kirk’s widow steps off Air Force Two in Arizona

When the plane arrived, second lady Usha Vance stepped off with Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika. Both women wore black and sunglasses.

Vice President JD Vance was a few steps behind them, wearing a dark suit.

Supporters nearby waved American flags as the casket was removed from the plane in Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family.

Air Force Two touches down in Phoenix

The plane carried Kirk’s casket back to his home state of Arizona.

A funeral is being planned, and Trump said earlier in the day that he’s planning to attend.

“Welcome home, Charlie. You didn’t deserve it. May God bless your family,” an unknown voice said on the air traffic control tower frequency after Air Force Two landed.

Vance helps carry Kirk’s casket

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance joined a group of uniformed service members on the tarmac in Salt Lake City.

Tyler Bower, who worked with Kirk at Turning Point, posted a video on social media.

Vance is transporting the casket to Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family, aboard Air Force Two.

Law enforcement officials say they have received over 200 public tips in shooting investigation

The Utah Department of Public Safety released an update Thursday evening. Most of the information had been released by officials earlier in the day.

Officials said earlier they had recovered a high-power, bolt-action rifle near the shooting scene.

Law enforcement was investigating inscriptions on the ammunition, but the update did not provide details as investigators continue to work to identify the shooter and their motive.

Officials say they are continuing “search for any and all potential suspects related to this incident” and are pursuing multiple leads.

The agency asked the public to continue sending tips in, adding that “no tip is too small.”

Law enforcement arrests person unrelated to Kirk shooting at crime scene

The Utah Department of Public Safety says the man ignored crime scene tape, entered the secured area and began taking photos of the scene and officers. He fled when agents ordered him to stop and attempted to identify him but other officers apprehended him.

He’s been booked into the county jail for felony obstruction and trespassing.

Trump says he hopes people will not respond with violence to Kirk’s killing

Trump said Kirk “was an advocate of nonviolence” and said, “That’s the way I’d like to see people respond” to his killing.

The president said he thought progress was being made to find the shooter.

“Hopefully we’ll have him and we will deal with him very appropriately,” Trump said.

Trump describes having a long conversation with Kirk’s widow

Trump says he and Erika Kirk spoke at length on Thursday.

“She’s devastated, she’s absolutely devastated, as you can imagine,” he told reporters at the White House. He didn’t get into the specifics of what they discussed.

Charlie Kirk is also survived by two young children.

Trump says ‘they’re making great strides’ on finding Kirk’s assassin

Speaking of law enforcement, the president said, “They’re very talented people, let’s see what happens. We hope they can do it soon.”

Trump plans to attend Kirk’s funeral

The president expects it will take place in Arizona, maybe next weekend.

“They’ve asked me to go, and I think have an obligation to be there,” he told reporters as he left the White House for a trip to New York.

Founder of group that used to direct Kirk’s security says it typically anticipated close-range threats

Gregory Shaffer, founder of Shaffer Security Group, oversaw Kirk’s personal security detail from 2015 to 2022.

Shaffer said that during that period there were usually around five people in Kirk’s security detail: one beside him on stage, and others covering the front and back. They typically anticipated a close-range threats like someone attempting to climb on stage or throw something at Kirk.

It was not immediately clear if the details reflected the security situation at the event where Kirk was killed as Shaffer Security Group no longer serves Turning Point USA.

“You don’t expect a threat to come from 200 yards away on a college campus,” Shaffer said, adding that 3,000 people was a relatively small event for Kirk.

“We didn’t have enough manpower to put people on the rooftops, we didn’t have the funding to pay for a pair of binoculars that cost $3,000,” Shaffer said about his time working with Kirk. He added that campuses were expected to be a low-risk venue.

Wiles says Trump received texts and phone calls Wednesday night from foreign leaders on Kirk

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles says the messages and calls to the president were from European and Asian leaders expressing condolences about Kirk.

“Charlie was very much a part of this family and maybe the highest profile MAGA person outside of those that are working here,” Wiles said Thursday in an interview on the radio show hosted by Republican strategist Scott Jennings.