Photo: Alamy
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox pledged Thursday night to pursue the death penalty against the suspect in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, while urging the public to aid in a search that has stretched more than 24 hours.
Cox made the announcement during a press conference that had been delayed due to “rapid developments” in the case.
“Due to the rapid developments in our investigation, we will suspend this,” the Utah Department of Public Safety said earlier in an email, before the briefing was pushed back about 20 minutes.
At the event, investigators released video showing the suspect running from a rooftop perch and jumping to the ground as he fled. Authorities asked the public to study the footage for identifying details in his clothing.
Officials said more than 200 people had already been interviewed and thousands of tips submitted, making it the highest volume since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. DPS encouraged anyone with digital evidence from Wednesday’s campus event to come forward.
“The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack. The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard,” DPS said in a statement. “Any additional clarifications cannot be provided to protect the integrity of our investigation.”
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He later died at a local hospital. The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the gunman’s capture.
Earlier Thursday, authorities released photos of a person of interest wearing an American flag T-shirt, sunglasses and a hat. Officials said the man appeared to blend in with the student crowd and was likely close in age to attendees at the event.
Cox promised justice for Kirk’s killing. “The state planned to seek the death penalty once the suspect was apprehended and tried,” he said.