Late Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said a person taken into custody was released, lowering hopes for a quick arrest as authorities resumed a multiagency search for the gunman who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event.
Optimism for a swift resolution in the Charlie Kirk murder probe waned. The investigation is ongoing, as FBI Director Kash Patel announced the release of a detainee following questioning. “Our investigation is ongoing,” Patel stated on X.
On Wednesday, Utah Valley University's outdoor event found Kirk, 31, shot and murdered. A school lockdown and a multijurisdictional search for a rooftop gunman followed this incident. Early on Thursday, while investigating leads, Utah and federal authorities discovered a rifle and other evidence, but they had not made any arrests.
Authorities freed two suspects without charges. UVU has closed until Saturday while detectives inspect the area, and students have formed temporary monuments to leave flowers and remarks.
Governor Spencer Cox termed the shooting a “political assassination,” as did President Donald Trump, who urged calm. To identify the shooter, authorities are scrutinizing security footage and interviewing witnesses.
After much confusion, Patel's statement prompted issues about the decision to post updates on social media during an inquiry. The bureau later reported the interrogation and subsequent release of two individuals, amid calls for investigators to provide careful updates to prevent speculation.
As false identifications spread on multiple sites, authorities warned against spreading unverified information.
Michael Mallinson, a 77-year-old retired banker from Toronto, was shocked to learn that his photo and name were misidentified as the offender when a person like him was temporarily captured. "It can happen so quickly," he said in a phone conversation. In the absence of validated information, media outlets and verification agencies have observed an increase in bogus posts and accounts.
Officials said Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular figure on the right, died at Timpanogos Regional Hospital after being shot during a Q&A. Police are asking anybody with footage or information to come forward, prompting vigils and memorials in Orem and elsewhere.
University administrators advised students to follow official channels for information. Authorities are reviewing ballistic evidence from the rooftop suspected of having fired the shot and have released photographs of a suspect.
