Person of Interest in Charlie Kirk Assassination Seen near Campus Minutes Before Fatal Shooting — New Video Released

A mysterious man cloaked in black, hobbling with a limp, was caught on camera near Utah Valley University just moments before conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk was gunned down. Now his bizarre behavior is setting the internet ablaze with speculation.

Newly released security footage appears to capture the man — now branded a person of interest in the shocking shooting — making his way toward Utah Valley University only two minutes before Kirk was struck down in broad daylight.

The chilling clip, obtained by TMZ, was recorded at 11:51 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10. It shows the man, dressed head-to-toe in black, hobbling past a quiet home in Orem, Utah.

Viewers have zeroed in on what appears to be the outline of a long gun concealed awkwardly down one leg of his pants. After shuffling past the house, he turns sharply at the property line and disappears down a grassy path that cuts directly toward the university.

But the man's actions grow stranger. The same footage shows him suddenly stopping in his tracks, twisting back toward the street as if reconsidering his move before changing direction yet again and heading decisively toward the heart of campus.

The FBI later confirmed that by 11:52 a.m., just sixty seconds later, the figure had officially stepped onto university grounds.

Adding to the unease, more surveillance reviewed by TMZ reveals the same man earlier that very morning. He's on the same street, in the same ominous black outfit, hobbling with the same unsettling limp — his presence already etched into the neighborhood long before the attack.

The timeline grows darker still. At 12:29 p.m., minutes after the fatal shot echoed across UVU, another video appears to show the black-clad suspect sprinting — no longer limping — across a backyard as panicked students fled the scene. The timestamp places the desperate dash just six minutes after Kirk was shot.

Unsurprisingly, the disturbing footage has detonated online. Instagram viewers erupted with their own theories, zooming in on every suspicious detail. "Is the rifle in his pants?" one incredulous commenter demanded. Another speculated, "He walked with a limp on purpose 😮!!! So no one would recognize him."

"Fake walk...🐀🐀," another wrote bluntly, while yet another declared, "Dude was a professional actor clearly." Others fixated on the escape itself. "He didn't really think of an escape plan🤔 He should be easy to find maybe," one pointed out.

Another mocked the sudden transformation, "How he get away fast 😆 [sic]," they asked, highlighting the suspect's limp that mysteriously became a sprint.

The FBI has acknowledged the shocking new evidence, admitting that this footage offers crucial context to the timeline of terror. Agents are now dissecting the man's movements in painstaking detail — both before and after the shooting — in hopes of finally unmasking and capturing the elusive suspect.

This dramatic release follows earlier updates from federal investigators, who continue to drip-feed revelations as the nation waits for answers and the manhunt for Kirk's shooter intensifies.

The Salt Lake City Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is still hunting the suspect behind the death of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU). With the killer still at large, investigators have released photos and are urgently appealing for more videos, images, or information from the public — offering a reward for crucial tips.

On September 11, 2025, the FBI Salt Lake City released surveillance photos on X showing a man wearing a dark cap, sunglasses, and a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag graphic.

He was captured from different angles, walking up a stairwell, moving down a hallway, standing near railings, and carrying a black backpack.

According to the agency's website, they are offering a $100,000 reward as the investigation into the fatal shooting expands. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or through the FBI's online portal.

Alongside their appeal to the public, investigators also revealed significant progress in the case. In a press statement, FBI Salt Lake City Field Office Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said a high-powered rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the suspect reportedly fled after the shooting.

"This morning, I can tell you that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon used in yesterday's shooting," Bohls said. The firearm is now being examined at the FBI Laboratory.

Agents also recovered additional physical evidence from the same location, including a footwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprints. The public has submitted more than 130 tips, which are being reviewed alongside the forensic evidence.

"All leads and tips are being fully investigated," Bohls added. "The FBI has brought every resource to bear, and we will continue to do so throughout the course of this investigation."

Though the suspect's motive remains unclear, investigators say the case carries broader implications. Bohls emphasized that the FBI’s mission is not only to protect the American people but also to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

"Any attack on the First Amendment is an attack on the very foundation of our democracy," Bohls said. "That is why we will relentlessly pursue this case until the shooter is in custody."

As previously reported, Kirk was gunned down in front of a live audience on September 10, in a moment so sudden, so brutal, that it left the crowd screaming. Just moments earlier, he was fielding questions about mass shootings in the U.S., unaware that his final words would be etched into history.

Tense Exchange Unfolds Moments Before Chaos Erupts

The shocking incident, caught on video, shows the conservative commentator locked in a tense exchange with a member of the audience who raised a controversial question. He asked Kirk how many transgender Americans were disproportionately responsible for mass shootings.

Calm and composed, Kirk responded bluntly, "Too many." The same audience member pressed further, claiming the number of transgender mass shooters was just five.

He went on to ask another question that would become chillingly prophetic, "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?"

Without missing a beat, Kirk shot back with what would become his final words, "Counting or not counting gang violence?" Seconds later, a sharp pop pierced the air, and all hell broke loose.

The crowd screamed in terror as Kirk recoiled violently in his seat, struck by a bullet in front of the stunned audience.

Data Expert Backs Audience Claim Contradicting Kirk's Remarks

Charlie Kirk's final discussion has now been sharply rebutted — with the audience member's claim backed by none other than Mark Bryant, founding executive director of the Gun Violence Archive.

Despite the tense exchange moments before the fatal shooting, data show that the overwhelming majority of mass attacks in the U.S. have no connection whatsoever to transgender individuals.

From January 2013 to the present, the U.S. has witnessed more than 5,700 mass shootings, defined as incidents where four or more victims were shot and killed. Just five of those attackers were confirmed to be transgender, according to Bryant's authoritative data.

Witness Recalls Moment Gunfire Shattered the Air

Now, after the tragic incident that led to Kirk's death, witnesses have come forward to share what they saw unfold at UVU.

One attendee, Skyler Baird, revealed, "I was only maybe 15 feet, not even 15 feet away from him. And I heard the pop, and I said in my mind, 'That was a gunshot.'"

Baird said his immediate thought was survival, but he quickly turned to help others escape the packed event, which drew roughly 3,000 people. As the crowd scattered, the reality of the tragedy set in. "I pretty much knew immediately that he wasn't going to make it," he admitted.

Although Kirk was heavily guarded while on stage, Baird noted that security measures were minimal for attendees entering the venue.

He explained that while the political commentator was protected from someone rushing the stage or attempting a physical attack, the general area had the usual campus-level security, leaving the crowd largely unmonitored as they arrived.

A Father, a Voice for Dialogue – and Now a Victim of Violence

Baird, who had followed Kirk's career for years, said the brutal killing left him shaken and filled with empathy, especially for Kirk's family.

He expressed disbelief that someone so committed to fostering dialogue could become the target of such cold-blooded violence.

Baird warned that this tragedy reflects a growing divide in America, one that's becoming too dangerous to ignore. He called for reason and logic to guide interactions rather than emotion.

"As you have friends and loved ones that you've cut ties with, don't cut ties with them. Call them back. Let them know you love them. Let them know that it's okay that you have differing opinions," Baird pleaded.

The witness also offered a final, somber warning, saying that when conversations stop, atrocities like Kirk's shooting become all the more likely.