The FBI is asking for the public's help identifying a person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, now offering a $100,000 bounty to help in their manhunt.
Authorities urged anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit digital media tips at fbi.gov/UtahValleyShooting, according to a post on X that showed a college-age male in a black shirt, black hat, and black sunglasses.
"The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah," the FBI posted on X. "Contact 1-800-CALL-FBI and submit photos and video to http://fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting."
The bounty before the college student body is potentially impactful, because funding an education is expensive in America.
Notably, early Thursday morning, investigators said they would not release public photos of their person of interest unless they could not find him. They first released the photos, then they released the six-figure reward for the campus and Utah community.
Authorities say they have tracked the suspected gunman's movements before, during, and after the campus shooting – and have recovered what they believe to be the weapon used.
Officials said the suspect arrived near the Utah Valley University campus at 11:52 a.m., moved through stairwells to a rooftop, fired from a shooting position, then fled across the roof, jumped from the building, and escaped into a nearby neighborhood. Investigators canvassed the area, speaking to witnesses and viewing doorbell cameras.
"We do have good video footage of this individual," an official said, noting forensic technologies are being used to identify the suspect.
Investigators confirmed they recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle in a wooded area where the shooter fled. The FBI stated that its lab would analyze the weapon, along with collected footwear impressions, a palm print, and forearm imprints.
"The FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon," FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bowles said.
Authorities confirmed they have clear video of the suspect, described as appearing "college-age."
The FBI reported the suspect is not in the wooded area, and though officials are not revealing what information they have on the shooter, some unverified reports claim he had some transgender ideology. Kirk was shot at the moment he was fielding a question about the number of transgender mass shooters.
"Is the suspect possibly still in this area?" Bowles was asked.
"So that's a good question, and it's a question that goes to the safety of the community, right? No, not in those woods," he replied.
"We walked through those woods and secured it. As to the community, I can tell you that this was a targeted event. We don't believe that the community is at risk. However, we are exhausting every resource to find him, and we will do so."
Bowles reiterated that identifying information is not yet available for the public as the manhunt bears down on the suspect.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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