FBI confirms 71-year-old George Zinn was not the shooter as conservative influencer’s killer remains at large following “political assassination”
A massive manhunt is underway after FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed a second suspect has been released in connection with the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, as the actual gunman remains at large following Wednesday’s shocking daylight shooting.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at 12:20pm whilst hosting his “American Comeback Tour” event at the Orem campus, with horrifying footage capturing the Turning Point USA founder collapsing as blood poured from his neck after a single shot rang out. The father of two was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, sparking what Utah Governor Spencer Cox branded a “political assassination.”
In a dramatic series of developments, FBI Director Patel announced late Wednesday that a person initially detained in connection with the shooting had been released after interrogation. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues,” Patel stated, marking the second time authorities had mistakenly detained someone in the chaotic aftermath.
The first person arrested, 71-year-old George Zinn, was dramatically taken into custody immediately after the shooting but was quickly determined not to be the gunman. Sources familiar with the investigation told reporters that Zinn, described as a local “gadfly” with a history of minor arrests, was mistakenly identified in the confusion following the attack.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason revealed the only information authorities currently have about the actual shooter comes from campus CCTV footage. “We do know dressed in all dark clothing. We don’t have much better description,” Mason admitted, acknowledging the poor quality of the security camera footage.
Death Penalty on the Table
Governor Cox, who spoke with President Trump immediately after the shooting, didn’t mince words about the consequences awaiting Kirk’s killer. “I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this: We will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Cox declared at a press conference. “And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”
The governor described the killing as “a dark day for our state” and “a tragic day for our nation,” confirming authorities believe it was a “targeted attack toward one individual” with only one shot fired from what investigators believe was a rooftop position approximately 180 metres away.
President Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in an emotional Truth Social post, writing: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
The assassination occurred as Kirk was addressing approximately 3,000 attendees at his outdoor event, with six uniformed police officers and additional plainclothes officers present. University Police Chief Jeff Long acknowledged the security failure: “We train for these things, and you think you have things covered… unfortunately, today we didn’t.”
Bipartisan Condemnation
The killing has prompted an unprecedented wave of bipartisan condemnation. Former President Barack Obama called it “despicable violence” that “has no place in our democracy,” whilst former Vice President Kamala Harris stated she was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting, adding: “Political violence has no place in America.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called for a moment of prayer in the House chamber, describing the shooting as “detestable,” whilst House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared that “political violence is NEVER acceptable.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had hosted Kirk on his podcast earlier this year, condemned the attack as “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” whilst Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated: “There is no place in our country for political violence. Period, full stop.”
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, herself a survivor of an assassination attempt in 2011, said she was “horrified” by the shooting. “Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence,” she posted on social media.
Rising Political Violence
Kirk’s assassination marks the latest in a disturbing pattern of political violence that has gripped America in recent years. The attack comes after the assassination attempt on President Trump during a campaign rally last year, the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their home in June, and various other politically motivated attacks across the country.
The 31-year-old activist had been speaking to the crowd for approximately 20 minutes when he was shot whilst answering a question about mass shootings. Eyewitness Justin Hickens, who was standing just 20 yards from Kirk, described hearing “a big, loud shot” before chaos erupted as attendees fled the outdoor pavilion, knocking over barricades in their panic.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA at age 18, had become one of the most influential voices in conservative media, credited by Trump with mobilising Generation Z voters in support of the MAGA movement. He leaves behind his wife Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, and their two young children – a daughter born in August 2022 and a son born in May 2024.
Investigation Intensifies
The FBI has established a digital tip line seeking information about the shooting, with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies coordinating what officials describe as one of the largest manhunts in Utah’s history. The university campus was immediately evacuated and remains closed, with classes cancelled until further notice.
Turning Point USA released a statement confirming Kirk’s death: “We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers. We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity in this time.”
As the search for the killer continues, supporters have begun gathering at Turning Point USA offices across the country, with many bringing flowers and sharing stories about Kirk’s influence on the conservative movement. In Phoenix, dozens gathered to pray outside the organisation’s headquarters.
The assassination has reignited fierce debates about political rhetoric and security at public events, with many pointing to the increasingly toxic nature of American political discourse. Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters called for unity, stating: “Republicans and Democrats alike must stand united in condemning this brutality that has no place in America.”
As night fell on Utah Valley University, armed officers continued their building-by-building search of the campus and surrounding neighbourhoods, with residents urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The FBI has warned that the shooter should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
President Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening in honour of Kirk, whose death at just 31 years old has sent shockwaves through American politics and raised urgent questions about the safety of political figures in an increasingly polarised nation.
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