Crime
Charlie Kirk shooting suspect seen running away on the roof
OREM, Utah — Authorities are investigating new reports and video evidence suggesting that Charlie Kirk’s killer was seen fleeing across a rooftop immediately after the shooting at Utah Valley University.
Witnesses also reported spotting an unidentified individual on a nearby rooftop moments before the gunfire erupted.
Suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk taken into custody, FBI says.
The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz confirmed late Wednesday that Charlie Kirk, 30, founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, died from his injuries following the attack.
The shooting occurred during a speaking engagement on campus when a single round was fired, striking Kirk as he addressed the audience.
Emergency responders provided immediate aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Confusion initially surrounded the status of a possible suspect.
Early reports indicated someone was in custody; however, Utah Valley University spokesperson Scott Trotter clarified that no arrest had been made.
“We can confirm that Mr. Kirk was shot, but we don’t know his condition. The suspect is not in custody. Police are still investigating. Campus is closed for the rest of the day,” Trotter said before Kirk’s death was publicly confirmed.
Authorities briefly detained George Hodgson Zin, an older man seen being handcuffed in widely circulated videos, but later confirmed he was not connected to the shooting.
At this stage, investigators have not identified the shooter or disclosed a possible motive. Local law enforcement, in coordination with federal partners, are reviewing surveillance footage, analyzing evidence, and interviewing witnesses.
The incident sent shockwaves through the campus and the nation. Videos shared online captured the chaos as attendees scrambled for safety while law enforcement and campus security converged on the scene.
The shooting has drawn widespread national attention. Utah Senator Mike Lee stated: “I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.” Vice President JD Vance also posted on X: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
University officials confirmed the campus will remain closed until further notice as the investigation continues.
Authorities stressed that there is currently no evidence of an ongoing threat to the public.
Charlie Kirk was a nationally recognized conservative commentator and activist, best known for founding Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to promoting conservative values on college campuses across the United States.
Further updates regarding the suspect and the ongoing investigation are expected in the coming days.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.