False Leads And Online Rumors Cloud Hunt For Charlie Kirk’s Killer
The killing of Charlie Kirk, a vocal opponent of LGBTQ rights, has been followed by a confusing manhunt involving false leads and viral rumors.
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The fatal shooting of far-right activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has left behind not only political shockwaves but also a cloud of confusion about who pulled the trigger. Officials have yet to name a suspect, while shifting statements from law enforcement and viral misinformation have only deepened the uncertainty.
Kirk, 31, was in the middle of his “American Comeback Tour” when a single shot struck him in the neck. A graphic video circulating online showed him collapse as students screamed and scrambled for cover. His wife and children were present among the roughly 3,000 people gathered. He was rushed to a hospital but died of his injuries.
Authorities immediately launched a manhunt, calling the killing a political assassination. Utah governor Spencer Cox told reporters that police had “a person of interest in custody” and promised that they would “find this killer.” Beau Mason, the state’s public safety commissioner, said his department and the FBI would work together to find the shooter.
But the search has been anything but straightforward. FBI director Kash Patel initially congratulated officials for detaining “the subject for the horrific shooting today.” Just hours later, he reversed course. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Patel wrote on X. “Our investigation continues.”
Compounding the confusion, two men detained shortly after the shooting were later cleared of involvement. Videos of one of those arrests spread quickly, fueling speculation. Online disinformation then pushed the chaos even further.
One viral claim falsely identified 77-year-old retired banker Michael Mallinson of Toronto as the shooter. His photo circulated across social media alongside accusations that he was a “far left extremist” and a registered Democrat from Utah. In reality, Mallinson was more than 1,500 miles away at the time of the shooting.
The falsehood about Mallinson appears to have begun with a fake account on X impersonating a Fox affiliate in Reno, Nevada. Before removing the posts, the fake outlet had attracted millions of views. Even Grok, the chatbot built by Elon Musk’s xAI, repeated the falsehood in replies to users.
The killing of Kirk is certain to inflame the political climate he thrived in, one where gun violence, disinformation, and deep ideological divides dominate headlines. For now, the only certainty is that the shooter has not been found.
