Manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer enters 3rd day as questions swirl

Questions are mounting because the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer enters its third day following the discharge of latest video of an individual of curiosity.

Within the newest video, which was performed throughout a information convention with state and federal officers Thursday night, the suspected gunman will be seen climbing down from the roof of a constructing on the campus of Utah Valley College the place authorities imagine he fired the deadly shot and fled rom the scene.

The FBI stated it’s providing a reward of as much as $100,000 for info resulting in the identification and arrest of the particular person liable for Kirk’s homicide.

Utah authorities launched pictures of the particular person of curiosity within the capturing on Thursday during which the person will be seen on steps whereas carrying a black backpack and carrying a shirt with what seemed to be an American flag print on it.

Thus far authorities have acquired greater than 7,000 ideas and leads and accomplished some 200 interviews, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stated.

Amid the manhunt for the shooter, officers stated Thursday they’re working “across the clock” to find the particular person of curiosity, who’s believed to be college-aged.

The FBI additionally stated Thursday it has recovered what’s believed to be the weapon used within the lethal capturing. A “high-powered bolt motion rifle” was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the capturing happened, in keeping with Salt Lake Metropolis FBI Particular Agent in Cost Robert Bohls.

The rifle is an older mannequin imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt motion rifle wrapped in a towel, a number of legislation enforcement sources advised ABC Information. The placement of the firearm seems to match the suspect’s route of journey, the sources stated.

The spent cartridge was nonetheless chambered and three unspent cartridges contained wording on them expressing what some legislation enforcement officers described as “transgender and anti-fascist” writing, in keeping with preliminary info shared with companies. It is unclear what meaning and authorities are nonetheless working to find out the which means or whether or not the markings have been meant as misdirection for investigators.

Officers stated that at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect arrived on the Orem campus after which proceeded to journey by way of the stairwells as much as the roof of a constructing close to the the place the outside occasion was going down, earlier than the shooter fired down at Kirk, Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason stated on Thursday.

Kirk was hit by a single shot at roughly 12:20 p.m. and brought to a hospital, the place he was pronounced useless, authorities stated.

After the capturing, the suspected shooter traveled to the opposite aspect of the constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason stated. Officers are working by way of close by neighborhoods, contacting folks with doorbell cameras and chatting with witnesses to establish any leads, Mason stated.

“I wish to make it crystal clear proper now to whoever did this, we’ll discover you. We are going to attempt you, and we’ll maintain you accountable to the furthest extent of the legislation,” Cox stated throughout a press briefing Wednesday, calling the deadly capturing a “political assassination.”

He stated state officers are already shifting to pursue the dying penalty if the case goes to trial.