The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on the 11th a reward of $100,000 (about RM420,000), seeking public assistance in providing clues to help police capture the murderer of prominent conservative activist and President Trump's political ally, Charlie Kirk.
On the afternoon of the 10th, Kirk was shot and killed from a distance while giving a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The shooter fled the scene. The FBI’s Salt Lake City office released two photos of the suspect on social media on the 11th. Utah officials said that investigators have obtained clear video images of the suspect, but are unable to release them at this time.
On the 11th, U.S. media quoted sources from various law enforcement agencies and revealed more details: Investigators believe the shooter was of college age and arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. on the 10th. The individual climbed stairs to the roof of a building near the speech venue, fired at Kirk from there, then jumped off the other side of the building and escaped the campus, entering a nearby community. Police are canvassing the community for leads.
According to reports, police found an old, high-powered bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in the woods near the school. The rifle contained one unfired cartridge in the chamber and three bullets, on which text was written involving 'transgender and antifascism.' Investigators are trying to decipher the meaning of the text and determine whether it's meant to mislead the investigation. In addition to recovering what appears to be the murder weapon, investigators have collected shoe prints, palm prints, and forearm prints for analysis.
Kirk became involved in political activism in high school and co-founded the nation's largest conservative youth organization, 'Turning Point USA.' He is also one of the most influential 'internet celebrities' among supporters of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement and helped Trump win the presidential election last year. His campus activities are seen by the Right as a strong counter to the generally liberal perspectives in higher education, but have also provoked intense opposition, with critics accusing him of antisemitism, homophobia, and racism.