FBI release video, images of person of interest amid manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer

The FBI announced it is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist organization Turning Point USA, during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Authorities also released images of a person of interest sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Kirk, as the manhunt for the suspect (who is believed to be college-aged) continues. Officials said during press conference on Thursday that they are working “around the clock” to locate the individual.

The FBI’s Salt Lake City office said on X while sharing two images of the individual: “we are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.”  The images, which show a man wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses.

Officials also released a new video on Thursday evening, which was played during a news conference with state and federal officials, of the person of interest. In the latest video, the suspected gunman can be seen climbing down from the roof of a building on the campus of Utah Valley University where authorities believe he fired the fatal shot and fled rom the scene. Authorities said they have received more than 7,000 tips and leads and completed some 200 interviews.

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said on Thursday that officials said they have been able to track the movements of the shooter and have video footage of the individual. The suspect is said to have arrived Wednesday at 11:52 a.m. on the Orem campus, and then proceeded to travel through the stairwells up to the roof of a building near the where the outdoors event was taking place, before the suspect fired down at Kirk – who was hit by a single shot at approximately 12:20 p.m. and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After the shooting, the suspect traveled to the other side of building, jumped off and fled off-campus into a neighborhood.  The FBI stated it has recovered what is believed to be the weapon used in the deadly shooting. According to Salt Lake City FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls, a “high-powered bolt action rifle” was recovered in a wooded area near where the shooting took place.   The rifle is an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel. The location of the firearm appears to match the suspect’s route of travel, officials said.  he spent cartridge was still chambered and three unspent cartridges contained wording on them expressing what some law enforcement officials described as “transgender and anti-fascist” writing.  The firearm and ammunition have been taken by the FBI for DNA analysis and fingerprint impressions.

The FBI asked for tips from the public as the manhunt for the perpetrator continues, urging anyone with information, photos or video from the incident to share it with investigators by calling the FBI (1-800-CALL-FBI) or submitting images and videos to fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.

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Colorado police identify 16yo student who shot two high schoolers and died from self-inflected gunshot wound

Authorities confirmed on Thursday that the student who opened fire Wednesday at a high school in suburban Denver, injuring two other students, died Wednesday night of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The incident was reported shortly after 12:30 p.m. at Evergreen High School, located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains about 30 miles west of Denver.  Gunfire broke out both inside the school and on the grounds outside, with deputies arriving within minutes and locating the suspect about five minutes after they arrived.

The shooter was identified on Thursday as 16-year-old Desmond Holly. At a press conference, Jacki Kelley, a public information officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Holly had been “radicalized by some extremist network.” Kelly noted that Holly had taken a bus to school that morning, used a revolver in the attack, and had “quite a bit of ammunition.” She added that “the suspect’s gun was fired a lot. The reason we have so many crime scenes is because we have windows that were shot up, we have lockers that were shot up. We have spent rounds, unspent rounds. It’s a huge area.” (per local news outlet Denver7.)

The attack appeared to be both “random and targeted,” Kelley said. One of the victims was shot inside the school while the other was shot outside; the two injured students were taken to nearby St. Anthony Hospital. One was released and the other was in critical condition, the sheriff’s office said. It did not release their names.

Kelley confirmed that none of the responding officers discharged their weapons, and said that more than 100 law enforcement personnel from across the region rushed to assist.  Three students — including the shooter — were treated for gunshot wounds, while a fourth student took themselves to the hospital with injuries sustained while escaping the high school and fleeing to a nearby elementary school.

More than 900 students attend Evergreen High School, located about 28 miles southwest of Denver and less than a mile from the center of Evergreen, a mountain town of about 9,300 people. Jefferson County is the same community where the 1999 Columbine High School shooting took place that killed 14 and injured more than 20. Those shootings were carried out by two Columbine students.

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Four arrested in connection with shooting of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard

Authorities have taken four people into custody in relation to the shooting of Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard, which occurred late last month (per The Associated Press.).

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Wednesday that Jayden Bodison, Caron Miller, Germany Atkins, and an unidentified juvenile were arrested in the case. Bodison, Miller, and the minor are facing three counts of attempted murder along with a charge of firing into an occupied vehicle; while Atkins was booked for violating probation.

The shooting occurred on August 31st in Havana, Florida, where Pritchard was visiting relatives. Investigators say he was struck in the back of the head by a bullet while sitting inside a car shortly before 10 p.m. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound Pritchard is from Sanford, Florida, and remains in critical but stable condition at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said that Pritchard was “not doing anything wrong” when he was ambushed outside an apartment last month. He added that Pritchard was dropping off family members, an aunt and a child, when he was shot.  Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said investigators believe Pritchard was not the intended target and that the incident was likely a case of mistaken identity.

Pritchard had not yet taken the field this season for the Seminoles. However, during Florida State’s victory over Texas A&M-Commerce last weekend his teammates wore wristbands with his No. 35 to show their support. In addition, head coach Mike Norvell presented the game ball to Pritchard’s father after the win.

Novell said over the weekend of Pritchard: “The way that he plays the game … he loves it, he absolutely loves it. To know that right now that’s taken away from him in a senseless act, you don’t always know why you have to go through things in life, but I do believe God has his hand over Ethan and this football team. To have Earl here today — he’s a wonderful man, and being with him I know it’s so very hard. I know it’s hard for anybody to have to go through, but he told me early in this week, ‘I know where my boy wants to be so I’m going to go stand in his place for him.’”

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NCAA pursues additional sports-betting cases against 13 former men’s basketball players at six schools

The NCAA is widening its investigation into sports wagering among student-athletes, announcing on Thursday that 13 former men’s basketball players from six universities are now facing potential violations.

According to the organization, the players — whose names have not been made public — may be disciplined for breaking gambling rules or for failing to cooperate with investigators. Allegations differ from case to case but include betting on their own teams, wagering against their schools, providing insider information to others, attempting to influence the outcome of games, and refusing to comply with the inquiry.

According to ESPN, the violations include athletes betting on and against their own teams, sharing information with third parties for purposes of betting, knowingly manipulating scoring or game outcomes and/or refusing to participate in the enforcement staff’s investigation. NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a press release that “the rise of sports betting is creating more opportunity for athletes across sports to engage in this unacceptable behavior, and while legalized sports betting is here to stay, regulators and gaming companies can do more to reduce these integrity risks by eliminating prop bets and giving sports leagues a seat at the table when setting policies.”

The athletes under scrutiny previously competed for Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, the University of New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State. The NCAA emphasized that it does not believe coaches, staff members, or the schools themselves were part of the misconduct. Instead, the investigation is focused solely on the actions of the former players, all of whom are no longer enrolled at their respective institutions.

The NCAA said it will wait until the infractions process is complete before disclosing any of the athletes’ names. It explained that Thursday’s update was issued only because the cases had already been widely reported in the media.

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Chase Rice shares the track ‘Circa 1943’ from upcoming LP ‘Eldora’

Chase Rice is gearing up to release his upcoming album ‘Eldora,’ set for release on September 19. The new project marks his second independent release following 2024’s ‘Go Down Singin’.  Preorder or presave – HERE.

Eldora was written primarily in the quiet mountain town of Eldora, Colorado, shortly after Rice performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  He shared: “This is the kind of music I’ve always loved and the kind of stories I’ve always wanted to tell. ‘Eldora’ isn’t about proving anything – it’s about making something that’s real and letting it speak for itself.”

As a preview to the 12-track album, Rice has released ‘Circa 1943,’ a poignant ballad written with Wyatt McCubbin and producer Oscar Charles. The song shares the fictional love story set during World War II which was inspired by the marriage of Rice’s grandparents, Harold and Berniece.

Stream ‘Circa 1943’ – HERE.

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See Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera in the trailer for ‘The Lost Bus’

In the first trailer for the new film The Lost Bus, Matthew McConaughey plays a bus driver attempting to rescue a stranded teacher and her class of 23 students.

McConaughey answers a distress call for a classroom of kids trapped in Ponderosa Elementary School, led by a dedicated teacher played by America Ferrera. The 23 kids are at risk of being engulfed by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Yul Vazquez and Ashlie Atkinson also star in the film.

Paul Greengrass directs the feature, which is adapted from Lizzie Johnson’s book based on the true story titled Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, a true story.

The Lost Bus arrives on Apple TV+ Oct. 3 after a limited theater run beginning Sept. 19; see the trailer – HERE.

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Season 7 of ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ to premiere September 29th

“The Kelly Clarkson Show” will kick-off its seventh season with new episodes beginning Monday, September 29th.

Deadline reported that Season 7, which began production this week in NYC, will premiere with a tribute to the heroes who saved campers during the devastating Texas flood in July. Clarkson had previously been slated to perform at Band Together Texas, a benefit concert organized by Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, but withdrew after her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s passing.

According to a press release (per People), to honor those impacted, the show’s premiere week will spotlight survivors and rescuers of the recent floods in Texas, featuring emotional “surprise moments.”

New season guests include Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Lionel Richie, Julia Roberts, Shonda Rhimes, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone, Channing Tatum, Reese Witherspoon, and more.

Fans can join the live studio audience for “The Kelly Clarkson Show” at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York. Ticket details are available online.

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Audacy’s 12th annual ‘We Can Survive’ concert to feature Ed Sheeran, Goo Goo Dolls, Shaboozey and more

Audacy revealed that Ed Sheeran, Goo Goo Dolls, Alex Warren, and Shaboozey will headline its 12th annual ‘We Can Survive’ concert on Friday, September 26th at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

The event will support the company’s I’m Listening mental health initiative and promotes having more mental health conversations. I’m Listening delivers engaging conversations to listeners nationwide through its annual broadcast special, collaborations with national and local organizations, specialty radio programming, digital content and more. The campaign encourages more conversations surrounding mental health and reminds audiences that they are not alone.

Hard Rock International is a proud partner of We Can Survive. As part of the event, Hard Rock will donate $25,000 to Audacy’s continued commitment to mental health.

We Can Survive is SOLD OUT, but for more information visit WeCanSurvive.com.

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Manhunt continues for shooter in conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder at Utah outdoor event

Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, just north of Provo. Kirk, 31, was shot from the university’s Losee Center, roughly 200 feet away from where he was speaking when he suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck. Kirk was participating in an event at the school as part of his organization’s “The American Comeback Tour” when he was shot and killed.

The FBI said it is working alongside state and local law enforcement “to fully investigate and seek justice in the fatal shooting” of Kirk, with the FBI asking for tips from the public as the manhunt for the gunman continued, urging anyone with information, photos and video from the incident to share it with investigators.

President Trump confirmed Kirk’s death, sharing in a Truth Social post: “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. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

A spokesperson for Turning Point USA also released a statement on Kirk’s death: “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot that took place during Turning Point USA’s ‘The American Comeback Tour’ campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving savior, who suffered and died for Charlie. We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers. We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity at this time.”

Authorities in Utah provided an update on the ongoing manhunt for the gunman, with state and federal agencies co-lead ing the investigation into what they believe was a targeted attack. The Utah Department of Public Safety said in a press release: “We initially took in George Zinn as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police. A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement. There are no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter.”

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff within an hour after Trump confirmed Kirk’s death. The President also issued a proclamation ordering flags to lowered to half-staff at the at all federal buildings, embassies, consular offices and other U.S. government properties abroad until sunset on Sept. 14, 2025. Trump wrote on Truth Social: “In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M. “

Kirk co-founded Turning Point in 2012 at the age of 18, a conservative non-profit that promotes conservative causes and viewpoints at colleges, universities and elsewhere.  Kirk was a prominent supporter of Pres. Trump who courted young voters and used his network of nonprofits to seek to turn out voters on campuses and churches for Trump in 2024. A native of Illinois, Kirk and his wife Erika Frantzve were married in 2021, and the couple shared two young children.

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Labor Department launches probe into Bureau of Labor Statistics data collection

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General announced Wednesday that they have opened an inquiry into the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) methods for gathering and publishing key economic data for the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index.

In a letter sent by Laura Nicolosi, the department’s Assistant Inspector General for Audit, to the BLS’s acting director, William Wiatrowski, the OIG announced the intent to review the department. The letter stated that “our focus will be on the challenges and related mitigating strategies for (1) collecting PPI and CPI data, and (2) collecting and reporting, including revising, monthly employment data,” adding that the BLS recently issued “a large downward revision of its estimate of new jobs in the monthly Employment Situation Report.”

The review comes just a day after the BLS announced its latest annual revisions, which showed nearly one million fewer people were employed in the year ending in March than earlier figures had indicated. Nicolosi did not specifically mention the revisions in her letter, however, she referenced worries linked to a recent “large downward revision” in job growth that appeared in the agency’s monthly employment reports. Nicolosi’s letter said the investigation would not only examine employment data but also look closely at the production of two critical inflation indicators: the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index.

The scrutiny also follows last month’s dismissal of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, who was removed by Trump after the agency cut job growth estimates for May and June by a combined 258,000. Without evidence, Trump alleged that McEntarfer had manipulated the figures for political reasons.

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