Charlie Kirk’s murderer on September 10, “was no lucky amateur”, according to experts. Mr Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA and a staunch ally of Donald Trump, was gunned down on Wednesday at an event at a university in Utah, sending shockwaves through right-wing circles.
Moments after the shooter opened fire, a suspect can be seen on CCTV fleeing across the roof of the Utah university campus building. The suspect was then seen climbing down and fleeing into a nearby wooded area. The rooftop position on top of a three-storey building was one of the few vantage points with a clear line of sight to Mr Kirk. Horrifying footage shows Mr Kirk collapsing after a gunshot was heard, and blood can be seen on his neck.
As investigators continue their urgent manhunt to locate the shooter, experts believe only an experienced gunman would be able to hit Mr Kirk from such a distance.
It was the work of one single shot, unlike in the assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump last year, when a shooter fired five rounds at his rally in Pennsylvania.
John Miller, a law enforcement and intelligence analyst, said the fact that a single shot was fired from 130 metres suggested the perpetrator was “not new to shooting”.
“This is someone who knew exactly what they were doing… this wasn’t an amateur.”
Striking the head or neck of someone from such a distance away is less likely to happen for someone new to shooting, whilst hitting the torso is easier for a new marksman.
US Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad told MailOnline that the killer was “probably an internet shooter, not a sniper or trained soldier ».
“He was probably aiming for the head but didn’t take into consideration the wind and the bullet pulled a bit. He didn’t take into consideration the drop or angle by the looks », he added.
Authorities haven’t named a suspect or their alleged motive.
Yesterday, the FBI released pictures of a « person of interest » in the shooting of Kirk. In a post on X including two images of the person, the FBI Salt Lake City account said: « We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. »
The images show a man wearing dark sunglasses and dark clothing. FBI officials in the Salt Lake City office didn’t say whether the person pictured is the suspected gunman.
The state of Utah plans to seek the death penalty in Mr Kirk’s murder, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has said.
« We’ve been working with our attorneys, getting everything that we need, affidavits ready, so that we can pursue the death penalty in this case. And that will happen here in the state of Utah, » the governor told reporters at a press conference.
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