Washington, D.C. – The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, has rapidly transformed him into a far-right martyr, with prominent influencers framing the killing as an act of war from the left and vowing retaliation, even as the suspect remains at large.
Within hours of the fatal shooting, figures like Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, Jesse Watters, and Matt Walsh unleashed incendiary rhetoric blaming “leftist violence” and calling for aggressive crackdowns, despite no evidence linking the shooter to political motives.
The Salt Lake City FBI field office released photos of a person of interest on Thursday, showing a young man in black sunglasses, a baseball cap, long-sleeved black shirt, and jeans, captured in a stairwell, as the manhunt intensifies.
President Donald Trump, in a video statement on September 10, blamed “radical left” rhetoric for the “terrorism,” while former presidents called for unity.
The Murder and Immediate Aftermath
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a key Trump ally who mobilized Gen Z voters in 2024, was shot in the neck at 12:20 p.m. MDT during the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour” at UVU’s Sorensen Student Center courtyard in Orem, Utah.
Video footage shows Kirk, seated under a tent debating mass shootings, recoiling as a single shot rang out from the Losee Center rooftop 200 yards away, per eyewitness Tyler McGettigan. Blood gushed from his neck as security dragged him to a black SUV, which sped off with the door open; he was pronounced dead at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital.
The event drew 3,000 attendees, mostly students, with Kirk’s last X post at 12:05 p.m. reading, “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason called it a “targeted political assassination,” with the college-age suspect arriving at 11:52 a.m., firing from the roof, jumping off, and fleeing into a neighborhood.
A high-powered bolt-action rifle was recovered in nearby woods, along with a footprint, palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis, per FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls. Two initial detainees were released after questioning, with no ties to the crime; the FBI’s digital tip line has received hundreds of leads, per CNN.
UVU, Utah’s largest public university with 47,000 students, locked down the campus, canceling classes until Monday, September 15. Orem PD, UVU Police (six officers on duty), and FBI agents responded; Kirk had eight private security but no metal detectors.
FBI Releases Person of Interest Photos
Today, the Salt Lake City FBI posted two photos on X of a person of interest, showing a young man (described as “college age”) in black sunglasses, a baseball cap, long-sleeved black shirt with an American flag image, and jeans, captured in a stairwell.
“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the post stated, with a tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI and digital media submissions at fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.
Bohls said agents recovered the rifle in woods where the shooter fled, emphasizing, “We have full resources devoted to this investigation.” The suspect is not believed to pose ongoing risk to the community, but the manhunt continues with SWAT teams searching neighborhoods.
We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
1-800-CALL-FBI
Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025
Far-Right Rhetoric Turns Kirk into Martyr
Within hours, Kirk became a symbol in the culture war. Steve Bannon on War Room said, “We have to have steely resolve. Charlie Kirk is a casualty of war. We are at war in this country. We are,” vowing retribution.
Elon Musk posted on X, “If they won’t leave us in peace, then our choice is to fight or die,” with 2 million views. Fox News’ Jesse Watters stated on September 10, “They are at war with us, whether we want to accept it or not. What are we gonna do about it? Everybody’s accountable… the politicians, the media, and all these rats out there. This can never happen again. It ends now. This is a turning point and we know which direction we’re going.”
Matt Walsh tweeted, “We are up against demonic forces from the pit of Hell. This is existential. A fight for our own existence and the existence of our country.”
Trump’s September 10 video blamed “radical left” rhetoric for “the terrorism we are seeing in our country today,” ordering flags at half-staff until September 14. Former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush condemned violence, calling for calm; Biden said, “Political violence has no place in America.”
On X, #CharlieKirkMartyr trended with 1 million posts; supporters like @MagaStrong2026 posted, “Charlie was assassinated by the left—time for war,” critics @BlueWave2026 said, “Tragic, but don’t politicize—pray for peace.”
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Why It Matters
The shooting ties to rising tensions: Trump’s September 6 “Department of WAR” Chicago post, Epstein files, August jobs report, health rumors, and mounting court losses. Kirk’s Gen Z mobilization for Trump, including appointee vetting, amplified impact; TPUSA canceled events, per CEO Aubrey Laitsch.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on September 10 that a detainee was released after interrogation; Bohls confirmed the rifle’s recovery on September 11. Gov. Spencer Cox called it a “dark day,” briefing Trump. VP JD Vance visited Salt Lake City today to honor Kirk’s family.
The manhunt, with “good video footage,” continues; Bohls said the suspect is college-age.
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