FBI launches investigations into leftist groups in Utah over possible prior knowledge of Charlie Kirk attack

FBI launches investigations into leftist groups in Utah over possible prior knowledge of Charlie Kirk attack

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated investigations into several leftist groups in Utah, suspecting they may have had prior knowledge of the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The investigation comes as the FBI and local authorities continue to search for the gunman who killed Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

The FBI's move follows the release of a grainy image of a "person of interest" by the Utah Department of Public Safety. The image shows a young, white man in a stairwell wearing sneakers and a shirt with an American flag on it. The person is believed to have been on the roof of a campus building overlooking the site of Kirk's appearance, where he was fatally shot.

The FBI has offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. The investigation has received more than 200 tips so far. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, visited Salt Lake City to meet with Kirk's family. The gun used in the attack, an older-model Mauser .30-06 caliber high-powered bolt-action rifle, was found in a wooded area near campus.

The shooting has sparked intense political debates and fears of rising political violence in Congress. Republicans have blamed Democrats and the media for inciting the shooter, while Democrats have criticized Republicans for blocking gun safety legislation.

The investigation into leftist groups in Utah is part of a broader effort by the FBI to identify potential threats to public safety. The FBI has not yet confirmed if the leftist groups had any involvement in the shooting, but the investigation is ongoing.