Person arrested for murder of Charlie Kirk has been released: Kash Patel

Noman Sabit: The person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday was released after being interrogated by law enforcement, according to the FBI Director Kash Patel.

“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Patel said in a Wednesday evening post on the social platform X. “Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”

So far, law enforcement has taken two individuals into custody as part of the ongoing probe, and both have been released without charges. It is unclear if law enforcement has taken more people into custody or if the shooter is still at large.

The update from Patel came roughly an hour and a half after he announced that the person of interest related to the shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where Kirk was struck in the neck by a gunshot, was in custody.

During a press conference, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) also said a person of interest was in custody and called the act “a political assassination.” Shortly after the shooting, law enforcement briefly detained one person of interest, but he was released from custody “after we identified that he did not match the shooting suspect and was not an accurate person of interest,” Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said during the same press conference.

“However, he has been booked into the county jail by Utah Valley University Police Department for obstruction of justice. We do still have an active investigation for the person of interest,” Mason said.

On Wednesday, while giving a speech at Utah Valley University in the United States, a young man opened fire targeting him. Charlie collapsed on the spot, bleeding heavily.

A video of the incident circulating on social media shows Charlie sitting under a small tent on the university grounds when the loud sound of gunfire erupts. He falls off his chair instantly. Panic spreads among the audience, and people start running in every direction. Police sources confirmed that Charlie was shot in the neck. According to the BBC, the assailant has not yet been arrested.

Following the incident, Utah Senator Mike Lee wrote on X that he is monitoring the situation. He urged everyone: “Please pray for Charlie Kirk and the students who were present there.” A massive police force was deployed at the university grounds after the shooting.

Meanwhile, after Charlie’s death, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: “The legend, Charlie Kirk, is no more. No one understood or connected with the hearts of America’s youth like Charlie did. He was loved and respected by everyone — especially by me — and now he is gone. Melania and I extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Erika, and his family. Charlie, we love you!”

Charlie Kirk: Trump’s Conservative Activist

Charlie was highly popular among right-wing leaders in the U.S. He was also a social media influencer, known as a bold speaker who never hesitated to address controversial issues. He mainly engaged in debates with students across American colleges and universities. His program “Prove Me Wrong” became hugely popular in the U.S. — but it wasn’t just limited to students; anyone could join his debates. Many of his debate videos went viral on social media.