New video, images of suspected shooter in Charlie Kirk assassination released

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — Agents with the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety have released information about the suspect believed to have assassinated Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, including new security video of the suspect.

“We do have good video footage of this individual,” Department of Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said. “We are not sure how far he has gone yet.” The video footage shows the shooting suspect climbing down a building on UVU campus and fleeing to a nearby wooded area shortly after the shooting.

Utah Public Safety also released images taken from campus footage of the suspect and are asking for help from the public in identifying the shooter.

(Courtesy//Utah Public Safety)

Officials say the individual suspected of killing Kirk arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. Wednesday morning, shortly before the event began at noon in the UVU Courtyard.

It is believed that the shooter fired the deadly shot from a nearby building known as the Losee Center approximately 200 yards away.

Officials believe the shooter fired from on top of the roof before fleeing into a “wooded area” nearby.

Commissioner Mason said investigators have found camera footage that follows the individual’s path onto a nearby roof where he is believed to have fire the single shot, killing Kirk. Footage shows the individual leave the roof and flee into a nearby neighborhood.

“We have recovered what we believe to be the weapon used,” FBI Special Agent in Charge, Robert Bohles, said during the press conference. The weapon was described as a “high-powered, bolt action rifle” that was found in a wooded area near the site of the assassination.

Mason said the suspect “blended in well with the institution” and officials believe he may have been “college aged.”

During a press conference on Thursday evening, Gov. Cox thanked FBI Director Kash Patel for being there on the ground to provide his support to the investigation.

“We cannot do our job without the public’s help right now,” Cox said. The FBI has received over 7,000 tips so far, a number they have not seen since the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombing. Investigators have also conducted over 200 interviews.

The investigation so far

The FBI released the names of both men who were taken into custody as part of the investigation into Kirk’s death. The first man taken into custody, George Zinn, was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police.

The second suspect who was taken into custody was named Zachariah Qureshi. He was also released after an interrogation with law enforcement.

“There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter,” Utah DPS said in a press release.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely uncalled for and insane,” Qureshi’s father told ABC4. “They should be focused on finding the killer,” Qureshi said, adding that his son was just 20 feet from Kirk when the shooting occurred. “He was in line to ask a question.”

Special Agent Bohls confirmed that his team is analyzing a foot ware impression, palm print, and forearm imprints that were found at the scene.

FBI agents are currently analyzing the rifle as well as possible “foot ware impression” and “palm print” found near the scene of the assassination.

Anyone with individual is asked to provide their tips to the FBI’s tipline here.

One arrested for taking ‘Selfie’ on scene

The DPS also noted that they arrested an unrelated subject on UVU campus at approximately 11:00 a.m. today.

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

He reportedly entered school grounds and began to take photos of the scene in a secure area. An agent ordered him to stop and attempted to identify him; the individual fled on foot. He was soon apprehended and booked into jail for felony obstruction and trespassing.

DPS has confirmed that that individual was not involved in the shooting and that Law Enforcement are continuing to investigate multiple leads and search the area. They continue to search for the suspect seen in surveillance footage.