The perpetrator, whose identity remains unknown, is still at large, and a $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to their capture.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has declared that the state intends to seek the death penalty for the individual responsible for the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Even with an extensive federal search underway, the suspect has eluded capture for over 30 hours following the shooting. On Thursday, authorities acknowledged their uncertainty regarding whether the assailant remains within Utah’s borders or has escaped to another state. “We have no idea,” Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason conveyed to NBC News.
During a press conference held Thursday evening, Cox affirmed that state authorities plan to “pursue the death penalty” once the individual is apprehended.
“We’ve been collaborating with our attorneys, preparing all necessary documents, including affidavits, to enable us to seek the death penalty in this instance. This will take place here in the state of Utah,” Cox stated.
Kirk, aged 31, was hit by a single rifle shot while addressing thousands of students on Wednesday. He was transported urgently to Timpanogos Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries later. Authorities have characterized the killing as a targeted political assassination.
President Donald Trump has pledged to pursue not only the individual responsible for Kirk’s death but also what he termed the “radical left” networks that incite political violence. In a released statement, he asserted that his administration would identify and apprehend “each and every one” accountable for carrying out and financing these attacks.