The Suspects Held in Charlie Kirk's Killing Were Released

The piercing crack of a gunshot shattered the midday sun and silenced an energetic student gathering — leaving behind a bloodstained podium, panicked witnesses, and a nation in shock.

What began as a political rally at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday, September 10, ended with conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk being fatally assassinated, his lifeless body rushed away as terrified onlookers screamed, ran, and filmed the chaos.

Now, with no suspect in custody and confusion mounting by the hour, a frantic manhunt is underway. FBI agents have swooped in, digital tip lines are open, and a horrified nation is left asking: Who pulled the trigger — and why?

3,000 Witnesses and a Leader Silenced in an Instant

It was just past noon when Kirk, 31, took the stage at UVU's bustling quad to speak at a Turning Point USA event. Around 3,000 supporters surrounded him. Then a single shot pierced the air. Kirk collapsed. Blood. Screams. Sirens.

He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, but the wound proved fatal. Kirk was pronounced dead just hours later. Officials now believe this was a targeted assassination.

False Arrests and a City Locked in Fear

Authorities moved swiftly in the aftermath. Two men were detained, questioned, and cleared, leaving the shooter still at large. George Zinn was first taken into custody, then released after being charged only with obstruction. Zachariah Qureshi was also briefly detained and questioned, but investigators say neither man is connected to the murder.

"There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals," said the Utah Department of Public Safety, which is now working hand-in-hand with the FBI. To fuel the investigation, the FBI has launched a digital media tip line and is urging anyone with information to come forward immediately.

Conflicting Reports, No Weapon Recovered, and Growing Unease

In the hours after the shooting, shifting accounts only deepened the uncertainty. A UVU spokesperson told reporters a suspect was in custody, a claim that quickly unraveled when federal authorities clarified the individual had merely been questioned and released.

CNN's John Miller called out the inconsistencies in real time, "That's official from the university […] What they're saying now is that person is not believed to be the shooter and is likely not in custody."

And the hard questions kept coming, "We have to answer one question now that we know there's not a suspect in custody. 'Is there a weapon recovered? What can that weapon tell us?' […] But, we haven't been told whether a weapon was recovered yet [sic]."

Panic on the Ground, and Digital Disinformation Online

Amid the terror and confusion, witnesses acted on instinct. Jeremy King, who had brought his wife to hear Charlie Kirk speak, reportedly described the moment, "Everyone around me dropped to the ground. I immediately stood over my wife. You don't know if this is a single shot or if it's going to turn into a mass shooting."

As bodyguards rushed to carry Kirk from the stage, King began recording. Skyler Baird, a student who also witnessed the attack, said, "I was only maybe 15 feet, not even 15 feet away from him," adding, "And I heard the pop, and I said in my mind, 'That was a gunshot.' I pretty much knew immediately that he wasn't going to make it."

Then came the misinformation. Within hours, Michael Mallinson, a 77-year-old retired banker living in Toronto, found himself at the center of a false narrative. His daughter phoned in alarm after spotting his photo circulating online, miscast as the man who pulled the trigger.

The image, pushed by a bogus account pretending to be a Nevada television station, quickly gained traction across social media. "I'm just shocked by it," Mallinson said. "How quickly it can happen, how one's name and photo can get spread around quite quickly."

Campus Shuttered, Allies Mourn, and a Movement in Shock

Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, confirmed Kirk's death to their employees and supporters in a note, also shared with CNN. The organization wrote, "It's with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven." Tributes poured in almost immediately.

President Donald Trump called the killing "a national tragedy." He also labeled Kirk a "martyr" who had "inspired millions," saying, "I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror."

Vice President JD Vance reposted Trump's remarks and offered his prayers to the grieving Kirk family. The Utah Department of Public Safety (UDPS) echoed the nation's grief, "This is a tragic moment for Utah and our country."

UDPS further urged anyone struggling to cope to call the state's mental health crisis line while announcing that the university is closed for the rest of the week.

As flags fly at half-staff, one fact remains chillingly clear: the killer walked free. A sniper struck in broad daylight, silencing a political voice in front of thousands. Now the FBI is scouring every angle — poring over surveillance, testing ballistics, and probing rooftop entry points — in a desperate bid to catch the assassin before he vanishes into history.