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Police Identify 16-year-old Colorado School Shooter; FBI Releases Photo Asking for Help Identifying Person of Interest in Connection With Charlie Kirk's Killing; Inflation Jumps in August and More Americans Are Laid Off From Work. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired September 11, 2025 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[14:00:21]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": New clues in the killing of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, the FBI releasing these pictures showing what they call a person of interest in the case. We have new details on the investigation.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Plus, economic warning signs blinking red, new reports showing the prices you pay for food, gas, and clothing jumped in the last month, and the job market is now on shakier footing. Plus, Britain's Ambassador to the U.S. fired after Jeffrey Epstein's so-called Birthday Book comes out revealing his close ties to the convicted sex offender. Ahead, the details we're learning about their relationship as we follow these major developing stories and many more, all coming in right here to "CNN News Central."

Breaking news, the FBI is asking for the public's help, identifying a person of interest in connection with the killing of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk. These photos appear to show someone in a stairwell wearing a black shirt and jeans. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification or arrest of the person responsible for yesterday's killing. It has now been almost exactly 24 hours since Kirk was gunned down at a speaking event in Utah.

Earlier, police said they had tracked a suspect's movement, saying that he jumped off a roof after the killing and fled to a nearby neighborhood. A gun believed to be the murder weapon was also found. Let's go now to CNN's Ed Lavandera, who is near the scene of this killing. Ed, tell us what you're seeing, what people there have experienced.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brianna, we are in that neighborhood that has been the focus of a great deal of attention from law enforcement. And I'll try to give you a lay of the land here and our perspective as best as I can. But if you look down the driveway of this home that is under construction, those rooftops that you see there in the distance, that is the campus of Utah Valley University and the little pyramid structures there, the darker gray color, that is the rooftop area where the authorities believe that this gunman would've had the perspective and the vantage point to shoot down into the courtyard area there of the campus where Charlie Kirk was holding his event almost 24 hours ago when this shooting took place.

And you can listen to audio dispatches. There were a number of people who noticed that there was somebody on one of those rooftops. This is what it sounded like over the radio here yesterday.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- is on top of the building on the far north side, just east of the library, wearing jeans, black shirt, black vest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- is going to be wearing all black, black long gun, black tactical helmet, a black mask, possibly wearing a tactical vest and jeans

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: So, that suspect and description of that person able to jump off the roof there and the belief, and one of the things that is being investigated is that, that person then made his way into this area. Authorities said they have discovered, they believe, the firearm in a wooded area. There are a number of little wooded areas behind this row of houses on this ridge where we're at, kind of overlooking down on the campus.

So we haven't been able to pinpoint exactly, officially where that was found. But we have an understanding that it could very well be in this area based on the interviews we've done with residents here this afternoon. And a great deal of concern as authorities here are continuing this manhunt, which is now stretching into its 24th hour. This is what law enforcement officials are saying now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEAU MASON, UTAH POLICE SAFETY COMMISSIONER: Suspect blended in well with the college institution. That individual appears to be of college age.

ROBERT BOHLS, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: We're doing everything we can to find him. And we're not sure how far he has gone yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And Brianna, that blending in with the crowd is a very significant detail because residents we've spoken to here this afternoon say that there were a number of those students who kind of fled into this neighborhood as they were trying to get away from the chaotic scenes at the shooting site. Brianna?

KEILAR: Yeah. Ed Lavandera, live for us in Orem, Utah. Thank you for the report. Boris?

SANCHEZ: With us now is Chris Swecker. He's a former FBI Assistant Director for the Criminal Investigative Division. Chris, thank you so much for being with us. I want to let you and our viewers know that as of a short time ago, we'd heard that the FBI was getting ready to have a press conference at about 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time in Utah.

[14:05:00]

And just moments ago, officials tell CNN that that has actually been postponed because of rapid developments in the case. So, we're not expecting to hear from lawmaker -- from officials in this hour. I wonder what that tells you. That seems like it could be a positive development.

CHRIS SWECKER, FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION: Yeah, no doubt about it. I mean, I knew as soon as that photo went out that there would be a pretty rapid identification. Anyone who knew him personally, family members, classmates, coworkers, what have you, would be able to recognize him off of that photo. I've seen bank robbers and other suspects recognized off of photos that were much less detailed than that. So, there's enough there to get a quick identification and enough there for people to, if they see him out and about, if you will, they'll call in. So, I suspect the FBI is hot on this trail right now and the other investigators, and I think that they postponed that press conference for that very reason.

SANCHEZ: Is there anything about the materials that you've seen put out so far, whether it's these images or the reporting about him having a screwdriver on the rooftop and the rifle that was found? What stands out to you about those details? Is there anything you can glean from them?

SWECKER: Yeah, well, there's one thing that I think is very inconsistent and it bothers me. And that is that photo that you're looking at right now. That's the photo of this guy blending in. The description that the FBI put out, the description you just heard on that radio was a description of someone who was in tactical gear, fully kitted out it sounded like. Now granted, he could have hid all that stuff, but it hasn't been found. So I'm not sure that -- there's an inconsistency there that could actually come back later at a trial to be, what I would call, exculpatory material. But I -- be that as it may, I think they're onto him. If that photo that they put out is the actual suspect, then I think that there's been a rapid identification.

SANCHEZ: Chris, talk to us about the challenges now of finding the suspect given that we're about 24 hours after this shooting happened. He could have conceivably even gone out of state.

SWECKER: Yeah, he could have traveled pretty far in the several hours or now days since the shooting. There's evidence here that this was a very skilled marksman. He essentially hit the bull's eye from 200 yards at someone who was sitting down inside a tent surrounded by people. So, there's a skilled aspect here, but there's also a disorganized sort of chaotic aspect to it. Like we saw with the Butler attempted assassination where there was no -- there was evidence left behind, a lot of evidence left behind. The Butler shooter was taken out, but he would've left all that evidence behind and he didn't have -- neither one of them really planned the escape very well. And they didn't try to sort of cover their tracks, if you will.

So in this case, he left all this -- he left DNA, he left palm prints. He left footprints. There's -- he has to know there's a lot of video out there. And now, his photo is out to the general public. So, he was organized enough and had enough premeditation to do, to assassinate Charlie Kirk, but not enough to not leave behind evidence and in my opinion, not enough to not get caught pretty quickly.

SANCHEZ: There's also the question of how if he is located, he is approached by officials. If he is still alive. In many of these cases, often these culprits take their own lives. I wonder what you can tell us about the way that agents are going to be approaching this person once they get in proximity.

SWECKER: Yeah. They will presume that he's armed and dangerous. And it may not be agents that get an opportunity to arrest this person. It may be that there's -- someone spots him at a fast food restaurant or a gas station or somewhere on the highway, and it'll be the nearest police officers in patrol cars that will actually make that stop. Unless there's time and somebody knows exactly where he is in inside a house or something, then they'll take all the time they need. If there are no hostages to put a perimeter around it and be very deliberate and not do a dynamic entry, they will try to talk him out.

They know he's suicidal. Well, he is armed and dangerous and potentially suicidal. So if they have the time, they'll approach with deliberation and caution. If they don't have the time, if it's out on the street or in a public place, they're going to have to go in very quickly and try to make the arrest as best they can under the circumstances.

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SANCHEZ: Chris Swecker, appreciate the expertise. Thanks so much for being with us.

SWECKER: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let's bring in former Ohio Republican Congressman Bob McEwen. He's the Executive Director for the Council on National Policy. He's a close Kirk family friend and a board member of the group Kirk co-founded, Turning Point USA Action. Congressman, thank you so much for being with us. First and foremost, we're so sorry for your loss. We know that you were close with the Kirk family and you shared with us just moments ago that something atypical took place before obviously everything that unfolded yesterday. And that is that Kirk's family was with him at the event. That's not something that usually happens.

BOB MCEWEN, (R) FORMER OHIO CONGRESSMAN: (Inaudible) and the vice president is going to pick the family and the body up and return them to Arizona. But let me begin by saying, I am grateful to both of you for the compassionate manner in which you've handled this situation. Many people feel a great loss. Interesting the tweets and phone calls I'm receiving from people my age are describing the tragedy that their children and their grandchildren are sensing. There was a great sense of hope and encouragement about this fellow that stood for what was right.

He didn't fight with people, he just talked with them. And that winsomeness made such an impact to an entire generation. It's interesting to see what's going to come of this, but it's a tremendous loss for our nation.

KEILAR: Can you talk a little bit about how his family is leaning on their faith? I mean, he's being remembered as someone of faith that was such a big part of his life. That's such a big part of the lives of those in his community.

MCEWEN: Brianna, thank you. The freedom is a three-legged stool. It's economic freedom, it's political liberty, and it's spiritual truth. And those that -- one of those is missing, it doesn't work so well. And he had a commitment that was inspirational to everyone. I'm going to be meeting with Dennis Prager's group in a few hours. Dennis Prager, Rabbi Prager and he were extremely close and he taught him the -- he taught Charlie the importance of the Sabbath. It was a major -- every morning, he did his exercise. He did his private time with the Lord and then, two hours of learning. And indeed, that's what brought Erika and he together. She was applying for a job and everyone of course loved her, and she is smart and capable and all. But then finally, the day came to meet with a big boss.

And so, all her friends were concerned. Her parents were concerned and all, and so they met for over two-and-a-half hours. And at the end of it, he said, well, let me just tell you, I'm not going to hire you, but I would like to date you. And she was startled by that, and went back. All of her friends said, well, how did it go? How did it go? She said, I don't know. But indeed, they had an affection for one another. They shared everything in common. And now, the children, it's -- my heart goes out to her. She knew what life was like because he's had to have security. My wife said to Charlie just the other day, they were -- he said, now you're going to have to have this rest your life. And he kind of rolled his eyes and he said, yeah, I'm afraid so. And that was a part that, that Erika had -- I think had hoped to avoid, but understood the sacrifice for the cause of the country. And that's what presidents have to do and people who presidents rely upon have to do.

SANCHEZ: Our thoughts are obviously with her and the children as well. I wonder what you think it was that inspired Charlie Kirk to pursue what he did, the career that he made for himself and his ability also -- a talent to connect with young people.

MCEWEN: Boris, that's an excellent question. And the answer is love. He -- like he said, when he woke up in the morning, he was so excited. He said, I can't believe I get to do what I do. And he was so good at it. He had such a winsomeness about it with a sense of maturity that I'm not sure anybody since the founders, that 20-year-olds have had this much impact. As you notice, prime ministers from around the world are making comments and I feel a sense of loss. And so, he was drawn to a love of his country. He was drawn by a deep sense of faith and then along came the family and he was just consumed by it.

He loved it. And that's what -- I think one of the things that young people at all his rallies he would emphasize, get married, have children. Work is always going to be there, but don't be passing this off. And my granddaughters went to a conference in Dallas just a few weeks ago where all of the -- it was for women and all these beautiful, happy women were telling about yes, having a family. And that was a major part of it, of what made him do what he did.

KEILAR: You touched upon it. He and his family, they understood they were at risk. They were taking precautions. He had security. He was a lightning rod, right? And he drew a lot of attention from people on both sides of the political spectrum, positive attention and negative attention.

[14:15:00]

You should be able to do that without suffering any kind of violence or someone targeting you as Charlie Kirk was targeted. How are you thinking about this moment? Because it is bigger than Charlie Kirk. How are you thinking about this moment for the nation?

MCEWEN: That's a very good question. It is an appropriate question, and it's not one I'm able to answer at the moment. We've never seen, I don't think historically, we've ever seen such a massive demographic political switch as we have seen between 2020 and today. As he mentioned, those young people went through a time in which they were told one thing and they were locked up. They couldn't go to school.

They were -- if you take this, it'll keep you healthy. They found out it didn't, then they get a burden for overburden of a college cost that they can't pay off. And they have a sense of dis-ease that he was able to say, I understand and here's how I think we can work through it. And there was an excitement that comes with that and how his loss will impact that, I am incapable and sad to think about.

KEILAR: Bob, it is great to have you. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us and you speak about him with such joy and it's so clear what a loss it is for you and as well as --

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MCEWEN: And you know that that's not just me.

KEILAR: Oh, I know.

MCEWEN: There are a thousand -- there are so many people. If you watch the prime minister of Israel, he was -- you could tell, he was very moved. And I'll leave off as I began. Thank both of you for your kindness.

KEILAR: Thank you. Thank you for being with us. And we'll be right back.

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KEILAR: Today, two signs of trouble for the economy and some new data that we are getting in, yet the stock market is shrugging it off. First, there was a jump in inflation in August, the warmest annual reading since January. It means it's costing you more to buy food, to buy a car, clothes. And then second, a jump in the number of people filing for unemployment for the first time to its worst in nearly four years, that is seen as a gage of layoffs. CNN's Senior Reporter Matt Egan with us now on this. All right, Matt, what do the new reports tell us about the economy and why are the markets not too bothered by it?

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah. Well, Brianna, look, the cost -- this cost of living report came in hot, uncomfortably hot. And we are increasingly able to see the fingerprints of tariffs on some of these price hikes. So the annual inflation rate as recently as April was just 2.3 percent. That was a four-year-low. Started to warm up 2.7 percent in July. But look at where we are now, 2.9 percent. That's the highest level of the president's second term. So, where is life getting more expensive? Unfortunately, at the grocery store. We're seeing the biggest monthly increase in food at home in almost three years.

Meat prices up by 2 percent. That's just between July and August. 4 percent for coffee. That is a very big increase and we have to remember that the United States imports the vast majority of its coffee and we have massive tariffs on Brazil, the leading source of coffee imports. Tomatoes as well going up sharply. But it's not just the grocery store. Car repair, airfare and jewelry as well. As you alluded to, markets seem relatively unfazed here. We see the Dow up by 600 points, 1.3 percent, climbing above 46,000 for the first time ever.

Brianna, unfortunately, that's because investors are increasingly sure this means the Fed is going to cut interest rate. So this does appear to be one of those times where bad news for Main Street is being viewed as good news on Wall Street.

KEILAR: That is interesting. Tomatoes, honestly, more than coffee for me, that is where I'm feeling it. That's what matters to me, Matt.

EGAN: Yeah.

KEILAR: So, thanks for that.

EGAN: And it's another example of tariffs as well because we have tariffs that were just slapped on imports from Mexico.

KEILAR: And I had a rough tomato season, if you must know, this summer. Didn't work out so well, so I had to rely on the ones from the store. Anyways, Matt Egan, thank you so much for taking us through that. Boris?

EGAN: Thanks, Brianna.

SANCHEZ: Just in, we have new details on the school shooting outside of Denver yesterday. CNN's Whitney Wild joins us with the latest. Whitney, what are you learning?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are some top headlines here, but just to get our viewers up to speed, this shooting happened yesterday afternoon around 2:24 p.m. That was in Mountain Time. This is a large high school. This is 900 kids. There was a student who got onto campus, according to law enforcement, took the bus to school and began shooting at fellow students.

Two classmates are still in critical condition at the hospital. The shooter died of self-inflicted gunshot wound yesterday. Here are the latest updates, Boris. They have now identified that shooter as 16- year-old Desmond Holly. Again, they say he was a student at Evergreen High School. This is about 45 minutes west of Denver. The spokeswoman for this area, this is the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley, made the point that this shooter appears to have been a blend of a targeted but somewhat random shooting.

And she said that because, what they understand about how this happened was the shooter went into the school and began shooting many times. I mean, she could not even give a definitive number of how many times the shooter shot, saying only that the shooter was using a single revolver handgun and reloaded multiple times.

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And when asked how many times the shooter shot, she simply said a lot. Right now, law enforcement is commending the actions of both the students and teachers who sadly know this routine very well. They had practiced it. They say that is the reason that so many lives were saved. Here's more from spokeswoman Jacki Kelley.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKI KELLEY, SPOKESPERSON, JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: The students and the staff at the school were amazing. They did their job; they did it well. And lives were saved yesterday because of the actions they took during their lockdown drill. We know that the suspect had a handgun. He had to keep reloading. He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload. This went on and on. And as he did that, he tried to find new targets and he came up against a roadblock on many of those doors. He couldn't get to those kids.

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WILD: Boris, what Kelley also said is that the school normally does have a School Resource Officer. They used to have a full-time Resource Officer, but now they're working on a blend because that School Resource Officer, who's normally full-time, was on medical leave. And at the time, a School Resource Officer was on campus until 10:32 hours before the shooting, but had been dispatched to a traffic accident. So at the very moment of that shooting, there was no School Resource Officer on campus, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Whitney Wild, thank you so much for the update.

Coming up, the man accused in the second attempted assassination of President Donald Trump is now on trial. Testimony now underway. We have the latest from the courtroom after a quick break.

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