Is this Charlie Kirk's killer? Manhunt after Trump ally assassinated while addressing crowd at student rally

The father-of-two, 31, was holding an outdoor debate at Utah Valley University and responding to a question from an audience member about mass shootings when a shot rang out. A single bullet then hit him in the throat.

He was pronounced dead in hospital around an hour later after being taken away by car.

Footage showed what appeared to be a lone figure, dressed in dark clothing, lying on the roof of a university building about 150 yards from where the conservative firebrand was speaking in front of 3,000 people.

Two men were arrested at the scene but quickly released, with officers now desperately trying to find the marksman, who successfully fled the scene.

FBI agents are working with the local police to track down the killer, with Utah governor Spencer Cox vowing to catch the murderer and suggesting the shooter will face the death penalty. 

He said: "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."

President Trump has vowed to crackdown on political violence in a video message posted on social media.

In the statement, Trump said he was "filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk".

Graphic footage shared online shows Kirk sustained a serious injury to his neck. Spectators can be seen screaming and running away after the shot was fired.

A statement by the Utah Valley University said the shot was fired from a building about 200 yards (182 metres) away.

President Donald Trump announced Kirk's death on Truth Social.

He wrote: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.

"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"

Trump announced all flags across the US would be lowered for the rest of the week in honour of Kirk.

He said: "In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M."

Trump later released a video, in which he said: "This is a dark moment for America."

He said his administration would "find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence".

Trump claimed "radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people".

Kirk's wife and children were reportedly at the event when he was shot.

The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures.

The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its "commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue."

Following the announcement of Kirk's death, US Vice-President JD Vance wrote on X: "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord."

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: "My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.

"It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.

"We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear — there can be no justification for political violence."

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage said: "This is a very dark day for American democracy. I am desperately sad for Charlie, his wife and children."

Kamala Harris shared a statement on X that read: "I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah. Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family.

"Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence."

Utah Governor Spencer Cox says he has been briefed on Kirk's shooting, saying the attacker will "be held fully accountable".

He wrote on X: "Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act."

Kirk has long focused on energising young conservatives with speaking events like the one at Utah Valley University where the shooting occurred.

He launched his organisation, Turning Point USA, in 2012, targeting younger people and venturing onto liberal-leaning college campuses where many Republican activists were nervous to tread.

A backer of Mr Trump during the president's initial 2016 run, Mr Kirk took Turning Point from one of a constellation of well-funded conservative groups to the centre of the right-of-centre universe.

Turning Point's political wing helped run get-out-the-vote for Mr Trump's 2024 campaign, trying to energise disaffected conservatives who rarely vote.