Donald Trump To Award Presidential Medal Of Freedom To Charlie Kirk; Law Enforcement Provide Update On Search For Shooter

President Donald Trump said that he will award the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old political activist who was shot to death at a Utah rally in what authorities say was a political assassination.

“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said in remarks at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon. “Our prayers are with his wonderful wife Erika and his beautiful children. Fantastic people they are.”

The assailant is still at large.

Beau Mason, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner, told reporters that authorities interviewed two “persons of interest” on Thursday, but they were later released. Noting that the individuals faced scrutiny and threats, and Mason said, “We ask the public to be patient with the investigative process. These individuals were not suspects, they were people of interest…. They don’t deserve that harassment for being subject to that.”

He said that they have been able to track the movements of the shooter, starting at about 11:52 a.m. MT, when he arrived on campus. “We have tracked his movements on to the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof to a shooting location.” He said that they were able to track his movements after the shooting “as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and inter a neighborhood.”

He said that they have “good video footage of this individual,” but that is not yet being released. He said that they are using certain technologies to try to identify the individual, and the video will be released if they are not successful.

Robert Bohls, special agent in charge at the FBI, said that they have recovered what they believe to be the weapon used, a high powered bolt action rifle. It was recovered in a wooded area whether the shooter had fled. He said that they also have recovered a footwear impression, a palm print and forearm prints for analysis. He said that they have received about 130 tips.

On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke to reporters, calling for unity. They were asked about Trump’s comments, made in a video Wednesday night, in which he blamed the “radical left” rhetoric for the attack.

“The bottom line is, this is a time that all Americans should come together and mourn what happened. Violence, which affects so many different people of so many different political persuasions is an affliction of America. Coming together is what we ought to be doing, not pointing fingers of blame.”

Jeffries said, “This moment requires leadership that brings the American people together as opposed to trying to further divide us. Political violence in any form, against any American is unacceptable, should be denounced by everyone, and moving forward we have to figure out a better way to come together.”