As the search for Charlie Kirk’s murderer enters its second day, the FBI has unveiled a chilling new video capturing the moments following the fatal shooting of the conservative icon.
During a press conference on Thursday evening, FBI officials presented the newly released footage, confirming the initial movements of the gunman after firing the single devastating shot that claimed the life of the 31-year-old MAGA figure during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
The footage shows a shadowy figure rising from a prone position atop a campus building near where Kirk was delivering his speech, before swiftly sprinting across the rooftop to make their getaway.
Robert Bohls, the FBI agent leading the investigation, provided commentary on the video, explaining that the individual then “ran behind the upper building and moved to the far right corner, as he does, he climbs off the edge and drops down to the ground.”
After plummeting a significant distance to the ground, a figure resembling earlier images released of the “person of interest” in connection with the murder can be seen crouching before darting off to the right-hand side of the FBI video.
Agent Bohls highlighted the spot where the figure landed as a key area of investigation. “He left some palm impressions, some places where we’re hoping to gather some DNA,” Bohls revealed.
He urged the public to take note of the individual’s black T-shirt adorned with an American flag and eagle, his distinctive Converse trainers, and his baseball cap featuring a triangular logo.
Officials have disclosed that the forested area where a rifle, fitted with a long-range scope, was found is merely a few hundred metres from where Charlie Kirk met his tragic end on the Utah Valley University campus.
Just an hour prior to the unexpected press conference, which saw FBI Director Kash Patel in attendance but not speaking, US law enforcement unveiled four new images of the individual they are seeking in relation to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
The enhanced photos show the suspect navigating a stairwell, his face turned away from the security cameras.
Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox stated that they were publicising the video to “get as much attention as possible, in order to get help from the public to track down this evil human being.”
Cox also outlined how the investigation had garnered more than 7000 tips and conducted over 200 interviews in their hunt for the murderer, the highest number since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. He further confirmed their intention to pursue the death penalty for Kirk’s killer.
However, no one at the press briefing indicated any knowledge of the suspect’s identity or current location.
As the conference drew to a close, the officials exited the room in silence, leaving behind a clamour of reporters shouting questions.
Following the public appeal for information, Utah’s Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason revealed to NBC that investigators “have no idea” where the suspect currently is.
They remain uncertain whether the killer has stayed near the scene of the murder, or even if they have fled across state boundaries.
“We’re exploring leads for individuals that live close by,” he continued. “We literally have persons of interest, tips coming in on the tip line, that are spanning far and wide.”