A second suspect has been released in the chaotic aftermath of the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel announced.

Kirk, 31, was shot at 12.20pm during a rally at Utah Valley University by a gunman who was caught on camera dashing across a rooftop in the moments after he opened fire.

Terrified screams erupted as the Turning Point USA founder toppled from his chair after the shots rang out.

He was then rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, as an elderly man was taken into custody.

Authorities have since learned that the man who was taken into custody in the immediate aftermath, 71-year-old George Zinn, was not the shooter. Another man, Zachariah Qureshi, who was taken into custody and questioned by police was also released.

‘There is no current ties to the shooting with either of these individuals,’ the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety said in a joint statement.

‘There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter,’ the agencies added.

FBI agents are now working with the local police to track down the killer, as Utah Gov. Spencer Cox suggested the murderer may face the death penalty.

Suspect has been released

The person of interest police have taken into custody following the fatal shooting has been released, FBI Director Kash Patel has said.

He had earlier announced that a suspect was in custody, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a person of interest was being questioned.

But Patel now says the investigation into the ‘targeted’ shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University is ongoing.

Utah Governor declares shooting a political assassination… and reminds killer state ‘still has the death penalty’

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox reiterated at a news conference on Wednesday night that the shooting was a political assassination.

‘To whoever did this: We will find you. We will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,’ the governor warned the shooter, adding that the state still has the death penalty.’

He remembered Kirk as ‘first and foremost, a husband and a dad to two children’ and declared Wednesday was a ‘dark day for our state’ and a ‘tragic day for our nation.’

Scene footage appears to show figure on top of roof running away

Footage from Utah Valley University caught the moments after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot.

In the eerie footage, crowds could be seen ducking out of the way.

But in the distance a shadowy figure could be seen running across the roof of the Lossee Center.

A massive manhunt is now underway at the university, involving the Orem Police, Utah Valley University Police, the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety.

09:31

New York Times under fire for Kirk obituary

The New York Times has come under fire for saying Charlie Kirk spread ‘outright lies’ in his obituary.

‘He was so vocal in his willingness to spread unsupported claims and outright lies,’ the piece says.

‘He said that the drug Hydroxychloroquine was 100% effective in treating the virus – which it is not.’

Time Magazine declares ‘Enough’

The new cover of Time Magazine has declared ‘Enough’ over a photo from the scene of Utah Valley University.

‘Deluge’ of congressmembers asking for increased security

House Speaker Mike Johnson said a ‘deluge’ of his colleagues have called for increased security following Kirk’s fatal shooting.

‘I think many of them are nervous, of course,’ he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. ‘They’re public figures. They’re exposed all the time, everywhere.

‘We have great security measures for members of Congress, but there’s a desire on many people’s parts to have more,’ he added.

Johnson said he is now taking those requests to heart.

‘We have to take serious measures for serious times,’ he said.