(Image source from: REUTERS)

The Utah officials were still on the hunt early Thursday for the individual who fatally shot Charlie Kirk, the engaging founder of the top right-wing youth activist organization in the country, after they questioned and let two individuals go. No one was being held in connection with the case around 12 hours post Mr. Kirk's shooting while he was addressing an audience at a college in Utah; this event was labeled an "assassination" by both the state's Republican governor, Spencer Cox, and Mr. Trump. The FBI director, Kash Patel, shared on social media late Wednesday that "we are still investigating," contradicting his prior statement claiming someone had been arrested for Mr. Kirk's death. Mr. Patel noted that the individual in question had been “let go after questioning.” Shortly afterward, FBI agents in Utah asked the public for any information. The person released on Wednesday evening was the second one to be taken by the police and later cleared of any suspicion. Officials mentioned right after the incident that an individual had been detained, but investigators later found that he was not the shooter. They added that this person, a local political activist, faced charges for obstructing justice.

Mr. Kirk was shot roughly 20 minutes into his speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was giving his remarks while seated under a tent that had the phrase "The American Comeback" displayed. There were around 3,000 attendees present, and six university police officers were providing security for the event, along with Mr. Kirk's personal security team, as stated by the officials. The authorities suspect that the shooter fired from a rooftop aimed at the courtyard where Mr. Kirk was speaking. Footage taken before and after the shooting shows someone on the roof of the Losee Center, located more than 100 yards from Mr. Kirk's position. In one video, a witness mentioned seeing a person run across the roof and lie down. In another video, this individual is seen fleeing that location right after the shooting occurred. Both Democrats and Republicans quickly condemned the shooting on social media and in Congress, where a moment of silence turned into political disputes. Mr. Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening. Mr. Kirk co-founded the youth activist organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and became a well-known figure on college campuses, where he organized rallies, like the one in Utah, which often attracted large crowds. He held considerable sway in the White House.