A manhunt is underway after a figure was spotted on a rooftop shortly after Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old was addressing students in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday as part of his "American Comeback Tour" when he was struck in the neck by a bullet around 12.10pm local time.
Footage shared online appears to show someone in black clothing lying flat on their stomach on top of the Losee Center, just 130 metres from where Kirk was shot. Witnesses described panic as attendees fled the scene. Student Sawyer Carr told the Daily Mail: "I hear a gun fire. Then his neck drops back, he starts gushing blood, and he just folds over."
Only six police officers were present at the rally, which hosted more than 6,000 people, and Kirk had his own security guards. Witness Tyler McGettigan told NBC News: "I was expecting when I got here that I'd have to pass through some kind of security, but that just wasn't a thing." Two men were arrested at the scene but were quickly released without charge.
Police and FBI agents are now desperately attempting to locate the marksman. No details have been released regarding the suspect's identity or potential motive. Spencer Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, called it a "political assassination" and vowed to catch the murderer, suggesting they will face the death penalty. President Donald Trump said he is "filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination".
