Who Killed Charlie Kirk? FBI Releases Two Detainees as Manhunt Widens

Charlie Kirk, 31, co-founder of conservative youth group Turning Point USA and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was pronounced dead hours after being taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) said roughly 3,000 people were in attendance when Kirk was struck by a single bullet at 12:20 p.m. MST on Tuesday. Investigators believe the shooter fired from a rooftop overlooking the courtyard.

“Any additional clarifications cannot be provided to protect the integrity of our investigation,” the DPS said in a statement.

Suspects and Investigation

Two men were briefly taken into custody after the shooting but later released. “We initially took in George Zinn as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police. A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation,” DPS said.

Officials stressed that neither man is connected to the shooting. A law enforcement source told the Associated Press that investigators are now pursuing a new “person of interest.”

Zinn, however, had a troubling past: in 2013 he pleaded guilty to making terrorist threats after emailing Salt Lake City Marathon organizers about planting bombs at the finish line, the AP reported.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the attack as a “political assassination.” State DPS commissioner Beau Mason said evidence indicated the shooter targeted only Kirk.

Trump’s Response

President Trump released a video message from the Oval Office after announcing Kirk’s death, condemning the “demonizing” of political opponents and blaming what he called the “radical left” for fostering violence.

“Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives,” Trump said. “Charlie was a martyr for truth and freedom.”

Trump also cited past attacks on Republicans, including the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise, but did not mention the recent killing of Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman.

The president himself has survived two assassination attempts, one of which left him wounded during last year’s campaign.

Kirk’s Rise in Conservative Politics

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18 with tea party activist William Montgomery. The group spread rapidly on college campuses, promoting low taxes and limited government.

Its prominence soared after aligning early with Trump’s 2016 campaign. Kirk even served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., cementing his role as one of the movement’s most influential young organizers.