UPDATE: Utah law enforcement released photos of a third person of interest in the shooting just before 10 a.m. on Thursday
SALT LAKE CITY — After Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday, authorities detained two separate people before releasing them both.
The first person was detained at the scene and released when officials confirmed he did not match the shooter’s description, according to Utah Valley University, where the shooting occurred.
The second person was arrested later in the day, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. However, approximately two hours after the arrest, he updated the public, saying the second person was also released after an interrogation.
As of early Thursday, authorities had identified another person of interest, but did not share the identity.
DPS Commissioner Beau Mason said officials tracked the movement of the shooter, who arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday. He maneuvered through the stairwells and up to the roof where he fired the single shot.
Mason said the shooter then jumped off the building and fled into a nearby neighborhood.
Our investigators have worked through those neighborhoods, contacting anyone with doorbell cameras, witnesses and thoroughly worked through those communities trying to identify any leads,” Mason said. “We do have good video footage of this individual, we are not going to release that at this time.”
Further, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said authorities believe they recovered the weapon used in the shooting — a high-powered bolt-action rifle, he said. The rifle was recovered in a “wooded area” where the shooter fled, Bohls said.
Investigators also collected footwear impressions, a palm print, and forearm impressions from the shooter and worked to analyze them, he said.
The FBI created a tip line for anyone with information or video to share with law enforcement in the hopes that it would lead to a suspect. Bohls pushed the importance of the tip line and asked the public to either submit video or photos there or call 1-800-FBI.
