U.S. Authorities Launch Manhunt for Charlie Kirk Assassination Suspect...$100,000 Reward Offered

Suspect Photos Shared on FBI’s Official Social Media
Loaded Rifle Discovered Near the Scene

U.S. investigative authorities have released photos of a person suspected of assassinating right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and are actively pursuing the individual's whereabouts. A reward of $100,000 (approximately 140 million won) has been offered for crucial information related to the suspect. On September 11 (local time), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Salt Lake City Division shared two photos on its official social media account of a person being tracked as a suspect in the Kirk assassination. The man in the photos is wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt with an American flag design, along with a black hat and sunglasses. The FBI announced that a $100,000 reward will be paid to anyone providing key information about the suspect. The Salt Lake City Division stated, "We are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect who shot and killed Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," urging people to come forward with tips.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Salt Lake City Division shared two photos of a person being tracked as a suspect in the Kirk assassination on its official social media account. FBI Salt Lake City Division Official SNS

Earlier, at around 12:10 p.m. on September 10, Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck and killed while giving a speech at Utah Valley University in Utah. According to local police, the suspect fired from the rooftop of a building approximately 200 yards (about 180 meters) away from the outdoor stage where Kirk was located. Kirk was a conservative youth commentator who founded the right-wing political organization Turning Point USA at the age of 18. He was also considered a close confidant of Donald Trump, having visited the White House more than 100 times during Trump’s first term as President of the United States. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the incident and has not yet been apprehended. Only a rifle wrapped in a towel was found in the woods near the Utah Valley University campus. The magazine of the firearm was loaded with three live rounds. Investigators believe the suspect jumped from the rooftop after the shooting and escaped into a nearby residential area.

The late images of Donald Trump, President of the United States, and Charlie Kirk. Photo by AP Yonhap News

President Trump, addressing the background of Kirk's assassination the previous day, stated, "For years, the radical left has compared great Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals," labeling the incident as an act of "terror." In addition, President Trump announced his intention to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, as authorities continue to struggle to apprehend the suspect, the motive for the crime remains unclear more than 24 hours after the incident. However, The Wall Street Journal, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the ammunition found in the rifle bore inscriptions expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideologies.