Despite mixed reports, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that an individual was briefly detained and then released after the shooting incident in Utah on Wednesday, which resulted in the death of Charlie Kirk.
Patel made this statement on X, coinciding with a local press conference where officials implied that the shooter might still be at large. Meanwhile, Utah Governor Spencer Cox noted that a person of interest is currently in custody.
About an hour later, however, Patel posted on X that the “subject” was released following police questioning.
Disturbing footage captured Kirk, 31, being shot in the neck at Utah Valley College. He was there for his “The American Comeback” tour, which features him engaging in political debates with attendees.
Beau Mason, Utah Public Safety Commissioner, clarified that while someone was arrested for obstruction at the scene, this individual is neither the suspect nor the person of interest in the case.
Reports have emerged suggesting the single shot was fired from the university’s Losee Center, located 200 yards from where Kirk was standing under a tent when he was fatally shot in the neck.
Authorities further stated there’s no evidence to indicate multiple people were involved in the fatal shooting, which occurred approximately 20 minutes into the event.
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz told CNN that Kirk was answering a question about “transgender shootings” and “mass killings” when he was shot.
“When that happened, when that question came out, and he’s you know, he’s going to have the interaction, one shot. I was watching Charlie. I can’t say that I saw blood. I can’t say that I saw him get hit, but I did see him fall immediately backwards into his left,” he said.
Officials urged the public to contact authorities if they had any information about the shooter. Cox called Kirk’s death a “political assisination.”
This story is developing.
[Feature Photo: AP/Ross D. Franklin]
