FBI offers $100,000 reward in manhunt for Charlie Kirk assassin: As it happened

Charlie Kirk was “provocative and confrontational,” yet willing to speak to people “he disagreed with,” embattled English comedian Russell Brand has said, suggesting the late activist’s attitude in part “led to his murder.” Kirk hosted Brand, who is facing numerous sexual misconduct and rape charges, on his show early in August.

The FBI has announced a reward of up to $100,000 for “information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.” The agency has set up a dedicated webpage for the public to share video materials and images related to the assassination.

The FBI in Salt Lake City has released images of a “person of interest” in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, urging the public to help with identification. The pictures show a slim man wearing a baseball cap, dark shades, and a black long sleeve shirt with an American flag artwork print.

US Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau has warned that foreigners “praising, rationalizing, or making light of” Charlie Kirk’s murder will face “appropriate action,” which could include visa revocations.

“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau said in a post on X, calling on users to bring such comments to the US State Department’s attention.

The Charlie Kirk shooter allegedly engraved transgender and anti-fascist slogans on the bullet cartridges he used to kill the activist, American influencer Steven Crowder has reported citing an internal communication from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

It was previously confirmed by the FBI that investigators had found the rifle believed to have been used in the assassination. According to the ATF message, the rifle was an imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action.

“The spent cartridge was still chambered in addition to three unspent rounds at the top fed magazine. All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology,” the internal message read.

Commotion broke out in the European Parliament on Thursday after right-wing parties were prevented from holding a minute of silence for Kirk. 

Politico reports that EP president Roberta Metsola rejected a request from MP Charlie Weimers to hold the symbolic gesture, with her office suggesting it could only be done in October.

During his statement before a voting session on Thursday, Weimers tried to yield his time for a silent tribute to the American activist, but the Parliament vice president interrupted it, sparking outcry from right-wing MEPs who banged their desks and shouted.

US President Donald Trump has announced that Charlie Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has not provided an exact date for when the award ceremony will be held, but said he expects a “very big crowd.”

FBI special agent Robert Bohls said investigators have images of the shooter but cannot comment specifically on his face. He added that it’s unclear “how far he has gone yet,” but noted that the the FBI doesn’t believe the community to be at risk.

Investigators have obtained additional evidence that could help track down Charlie Kirk’s killer, including a palm imprint, a forearm imprint and a footwear impression, said Robert Bohls, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office.

Kirk’s assassin is believed to be “of college age,” the commissioner of Utah’s Department of Public Safety, Beau Mason, has said. “We are confident in our abilities to track that individual,” he insisted at a news conference on Thursday.