US Scrambles After Killing of Charlie Kirk as Investigation Exposes Security Failures
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The US political establishment is facing growing questions after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event, as authorities struggle to identify a suspect despite massive federal involvement.
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on Wednesday during a public debate at Utah Valley University.
The event was part of his "Prove Me Wrong" series, where he regularly confronted students on cultural and political issues.
Despite heavy security presence, a gunman fired from a campus building rooftop, escaping immediately afterward.
Utah officials later released a video showing a man climbing down from the roof and fleeing into a wooded area.
Investigators said they recovered a firearm, palm prints, and shoe impressions, but no arrest has been made.
Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the state will pursue the death penalty once a suspect is apprehended.
Federal authorities, including the FBI and US Marshals, have joined the manhunt.
Officials admitted receiving over 7,000 tips — the largest wave of digital leads since the Boston Marathon bombing — but so far no concrete suspect has emerged.
By late Thursday, conflicting reports surfaced about the identity of a "person of interest," with officials conceding that one lead had already collapsed.
Kirk’s body was flown back to Arizona aboard Vice President JD Vance’s plane.
President Donald Trump praised Kirk as a “patriot” and claimed investigators were making “big progress,” though he declined to provide details.
Republican lawmakers called for memorial honors in the US Capitol, with Rep. Nancy Mace proposing that Kirk lie in honor in the Rotunda.
The killing has rattled Washington.
Utah Senator John Curtis admitted the attack will force politicians to rethink their security at public gatherings, warning: “I’m going to think twice next time I’m in the major parade.”
Threats against US lawmakers have surged in recent years, highlighting Washington’s failure to curb political violence despite its vast security apparatus.
The US government’s reliance on symbolic gestures — from talk of Capitol tributes to vows of the death penalty — contrasts with its inability to prevent or swiftly resolve the crime.
The investigation remains ongoing, with officials offering no timeline for when a suspect may be arrested.
