Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, sparking a federal investigation that has taken a turn with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s public handling of suspect information on social media.
FBI Releases Initial Suspect as Investigation Continues
A gunman fired from a campus building 200 yards away, striking Kirk once in the neck just after noon local time. The Turning Point USA co-founder and Trump ally was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery before President Donald Trump announced his death.
Political Leaders Issue Bipartisan Condemnation
The assassination drew widespread condemnation across party lines. “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence,” former President Joe Biden wrote. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “utterly devastating,” describing Kirk as “a close friend and confidant”.
Trump ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-mast through Sunday, writing on Truth Social: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie”.
Unusual FBI Response
FBI Director Kash Patel took the uncommon step of announcing the suspect’s custody and subsequent release via social media platform X. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues,” Patel wrote.
Read Next:
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Carrington Tatum / Shutterstock.com
