Man arrested for trespassing at UVU crime scene where Charlie Kirk was killed

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — Earlier today, a man was arrested for allegedly entering the crime scene and taking photos and videos of evidence at UVU where conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was murdered.

Utah Department of Public Safety announced that the arrest had taken place, and they stated that it was not related to the murder. The arrest happened around 11 a.m. this morning, Sept. 11.

Russell Kennington, 38, was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass and obstruction of justice in a capital or first-degree felony case.

According to the probable cause affidavit, local police and federal agencies were conducting their investigation into the UVU homicide at the crime scene, which was roped off with high visibility crime scene tape.

Investigators saw a man in a white lab coat using his phone to take photos and videos of evidence, and he had crossed the crime scene tape. Agents and detectives confronted him, and he ran east of the crime scene to the Woodbury Building.

Detectives caught up to him and told him to stop, which he did. The suspect identified himself as Russell Kennington from Pleasant Grove, Utah. He reportedly told detectives that he was at the crime scene to take photos and videos of the crime scene, and he was “reminiscing and filming the scene.”

He allegedly told police that he stayed in the shadows as he approached the crime scene to avoid police contact, so as not to “disturb” investigators. He also said that he saw the crime scene tape and knew it means to stay out.

Police also said that they later found a photo on Kennington’s phone where he took a selfie of himself inside the crime scene tape.

Kennington was booked into the Utah County Jail.