Manhunt underway for suspect who shot and killed Charlie Kirk

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — Suspect still at large after Conservative leader and activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Utah Valley University Campus on Wednesday.

A manhunt is underway, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has created a digital

media tip line for information regarding this shooting. Previously, two persons of interest were taken into custody after the shooting.

Orem Police Department first detained one individual and announced that the suspect was in custody, but they later cleared and released that individual, saying that he was “not an accurate person of interest.”

However, that individual, identified as George Hodgson Zinn, was booked in the Utah County Jail for obstruction of justice.

Shortly after 4 p.m., FBI Director Kash Patel announced that another suspect was taken into custody, with Governor Cox confirming during a press conference that a “person of interest” was detained. Additionally, Governor Cox stated that law enforcement was actively looking for information regarding the shooting.

The Department of Public Safety has identified the second individual taken into custody as Zachariah Qureshi. However, both DPS and the FBI have confirmed that Qureshi has been released after being interrogated.

Reportedly, neither Qureshi nor Zinn have any current ties to the shooting.

The search for the shooter is still underway. Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said, “As soon as we heard about the shooting, special agents and personnel from the Salt Lake City Field Office responded immediately.”

Bohls added, “We have full resources devoted to this investigation, including tactical, operational, investigative and intelligence. To be clear, the FBI will fully support and co-lead this investigation alongside our partners.”

Courtesy: MJ Jewkes // KTVX

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Charlie Kirk was a popular Conservative activist who has written several books on conservative ideas and in support of President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign. He has hosted a radio program to discuss those ideas and founded Turning Point USA, a non-profit organization focused on conservative activism.

He was hosting a tour across multiple college campuses throughout the nation, in which he debated attendees on topics like Abortion and immigration.

Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) as part of those national campus tours when he was shot. President Donald Trump later confirmed in a Truth Social post that Kirk had died as a result of his injuries.

What Happened?

As Charlie Kirk was speaking, around 12:20 p.m., he was shot in the neck. The Department of Public Safety has said the shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a nearby building. Shortly after, he was transported to the hospital.

Many students immediately fled from campus, while those who were still there were told to shelter-in-place for students and had law enforcement escort people off campus from each building.

Additionally, several neighboring elementary and junior high schools went into secure protocol, though most schools released students at or shortly after normal release times. Utah Valley University has extended their campus closure until September 15th, 2025, since several spots on the campus remain active crime scenes.

A full timeline of the shooting and subsequent events can be found here.