A subject in the shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah on Wednesday was captured and later released, and the FBI’s investigation is ongoing, FBI Director Kash Patel said on X Wednesday.
Kirk was hit in the neck while taking questions from students during a Q&A session, witnesses told Deseret News. Videos posted on social media showed a crowd of dozens of attendees running for safety after the shooting occurred. President Donald Trump later announced his death on Truth Social. (RELATED: Charlie Kirk Shot In Utah)
“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Patel said. “Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”
Patel initially wrote earlier on Wednesday that “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.”
“I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this: We will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a press conference about the shooter.
“This is the situation to the best of our knowledge Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group turning point USA was speaking on campus today beginning at noon at about 120 a shot was fired from a building about 200 yards away,” a Utah Valley University (UVU) spokesperson said earlier Wednesday afternoon.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with further information from the FBI director.
