Manhunt on for Shooter: FBI Asks for Help From Public in Charlie Kirk Assassination Investigation After Two Suspects Released Following Questioning

a student-led event hosted by Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday afternoon. He was 31.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. MST in the university’s outdoor courtyard, where Kirk was addressing an audience of around 3,000 students. He was struck in the neck by a single bullet and later pronounced dead at Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

In a joint press conference Wednesday night, the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI confirmed that the shot is believed to have been fired from the rooftop of the Losee Center — a building located approximately 200 yards from the event site.

Authorities are treating the shooting as a targeted political assassination. Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) called Kirk’s death a “political assassination,” citing the high-profile nature of the event and Kirk’s prominence as a political figure.

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“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made remarks following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, saying, “I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.” https://t.co/FS52Sp0zLm pic.twitter.com/zqbLtVtKV0

— ABC News (@ABC) September 10, 2025

Security Gaps Under Scrutiny

Only six campus police officers were assigned to the event, sparking criticism in the wake of the incident. Officials noted that despite previous lessons from the assassination attempt on President Trump by Thomas Butler, the rooftop vantage point from which the shot was fired had reportedly been left unsecured.

Viral videos and verified images broadcast by KSL-TV appear to show a person on the Losee Center rooftop just before the shooting occurred. Emergency dispatch audio later described the suspected shooter as wearing jeans, a black shirt and vest, and wielding a long rifle.

Investigation Details and Suspects Questioned

The DPS and FBI are leading the ongoing investigation in coordination with:

The Utah County Attorney’s Office
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office
Local law enforcement agencies

Two individuals were initially taken in for questioning:

George Zinn, who was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU Police
Zachariah Qureshi, who was also released after questioning

At this time, neither individual is believed to be directly connected to the shooting. Authorities continue to search for the shooter, and have established a digital media tip line at fbi.gov/UtahValleyShooting, urging the public to submit any relevant footage or information.

Multiple active crime scenes are under investigation, including the courtyard where Kirk was shot and the path of travel for both the victim and the suspected shooter.

Community Impact and University Response

The UVU campus will remain closed for the rest of the week as law enforcement continues its investigation. Students, staff, and faculty can visit uvu.info for updates.

“This is a tragic moment for Utah and our country,” officials said in the statement. “As we all heal, we encourage those who need support to call 988, the state’s mental health crisis line.”

Charlie Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.

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Sobbing watching this video from Charlie Kirk’s wife. She captioned it “thank you for being my love story ❤️” pic.twitter.com/5GU3zh11I7

— Samantha Smith (@SamanthaTaghoy) September 10, 2025