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Officials Release Video of Suspect Jumping from Roof After Kirk Shot; Authorities Say, Don't Know If Kirk Shooting Suspect Still in Utah; Officials Say, Teen Shooter was Radicalized By Extremist Network. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired September 12, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking this morning, almost 48 hours since a gunman killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and the shooter is still on the run. New video coming in overnight showing the gunman jumping from a roof and fleeing the scene, new images also being put up by law enforcement as they plead with the public for help.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A new investigation launched into some of the world's most notable names in tech digging into the potential damage A.I. chatbots pose to young children.

And a surprise visit by Prince Harry, why he just showed up in the middle of war-torn Ukraine.

Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: The breaking news this morning, new images and videos now out and the search intensifying for the person you see in these photos right here, the suspect and the deadly shooting of conservative activists Charlie Kirk. It's now been more than 40 hours since Kirk was killed, assassinated by a single bullet, and still there is no one in custody and authorities have not publicly identified this man.

But we do know now -- we do now have this surveillance video from right after the shooting. Investigators say it shows the suspect running across the roof of a building at Utah Valley University campus, then jumping off, as you see right there, escaping then into a wooded area. Police have now acknowledged though that they have no idea whether this man is even still in the state.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 in this case. Utah's Governor Spencer Cox says authorities have received more than 7,000 leads and tips, conducted nearly 200 interviews. Cox says the state will pursue the death penalty in this case, and he's made this plea to the public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SPENCER COX (R-UT): We cannot do our job without the public's help right now. The public has answered our call for action.

We also continue to implore the public to support this investigation and come forward with any information. We are truly hopeful that this video and new photos will lead to even more tips.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Nick Watt is on the scene for us in Utah. Nick, what is the latest with this manhunt now?

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well listen, Kate, as you laid out, there's a lot we don't know. They have not publicly released a name. We don't know if they have a name. We assume that they do not have a name. We also have heard that they don't know if this suspect is even still in Utah.

But let's talk through what we do know. So, CNN has obtained some video from before the shooting, showing what appears to be the subject walking to campus through a residential neighborhood, and apparently limping. But that could be he's concealing something down a pant leg. We don't know.

Anyway, then on the scene, we now have a vantage point still photograph showing where the shooter lay and the view that shooter had of that little tent where Charlie Kirk was sitting when he was assassinated. So, we have that.

We also have new stills released, enhanced stills, we're told, of the suspect wearing some distinct clothing, a cap with a triangle on the front, a black T-shirt with an American flag and an eagle on the front, Converse sneakers. So, authorities are saying somebody has got to recognize these items, the backpack, the shoes, the T-shirt.

Of course, the suspect could now have changed clothing, but it's more they're saying, do you know somebody who owns this T-shirt, who owns a pair of shoes like that? That's what they're looking for. As you mentioned, they need all the help they can get from the public.

And then let's go onto that video that shows the suspect running across the roof of that college campus, building in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and jumping down. It looks like maybe 12 to 18 feet full, hits the ground and then runs.

Now, that is where we are told the forearm print and the palm print have been taken from, and also the foot imprint of the shoe on the ground when he lands.

[07:05:02]

Now, they traced from that video, they saw where he went into that wooded area, and that is where they found the rifle, the rifle with these potentially political engravings on it. That rifle is still being analyzed. So, that is where we are.

Now, CNN has also spoken to a college kid who goes here who said that a week prior to the shooting, so noon previous Wednesday, this student saw somebody walking on the roof of that low sea building and described them as a tall, skinny-ish, white dude, which almost matches, could potentially match those stills that we see of the suspect. Apparently a professor called up to the person on the roof and said, hey, you're doing all right and got no reply.

Now, Kash Patel, director of the FBI, is here. He was at a press conference last night, did not speak. But as you mentioned, Kate, the governor, is saying that if this person is caught, the state of Utah will pursue the death penalty. But as you said, it's now 40 hours and counting of this manhunt. Back to you.

BOLDUAN: Yes. So, we learned so much just in the course of yesterday morning during the course of this show when they came out with a press conference and so much information. Much more to come now today.

Nick. Thank you very much, that manhunt continuing now. John?

BERMAN: All right. With us now, CNN, Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Chief Charles Ramsey. Thanks so much for being with us.

These are the enhanced still photos that were released. You can see the T-shirt here, the sunglasses, the Converse-looking shoes right there, Chief. What jumps out to you most from these photos? What might be of most use and what about the fact that it doesn't seem, at least, we don't know, if authorities actually know this man's name.

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I mean, it's all potentially of some use, but, clearly, it's a disguise, so he blends in with the university students. This may not be something he would normally wear. It may be the first time he's ever put that on. So, it doesn't necessarily mean that someone has recognized that sweatshirt before and can now pin it to a particular person. We just don't know the answer to any of that.

When you look at these pictures, he's intentionally trying not to look at cameras. I do believe he's been on campus before. That statement that was just made about seeing someone on the roof a week before would make some sense. You got to scout out a location. You're not going to try to take a shot like that without knowing the layout, so to speak, where the cameras are located so you can avoid them. And so this is a person that really spent some time planning this particular assassination.

BERMAN: This is a look right here. The first time we're getting really look at this from the vantage point of where he may been when he actually took the shot. It's pretty chilling to see this.

And then this is the entire neighborhood really pulled out here. So you can see where the university is right here. But you can also see highways. You can also see, you know, really rural areas, hills in the woods there. What do you make of the fact that authorities are now saying they don't even know whether he's in the states still?

RAMSEY: Well, he clearly has good escape route. And the longer this goes, the more difficult it becomes. Not impossible, but certainly difficult. He could be anywhere. And so when they put this out, and they do it on major cable networks, like CNN and other networks, they're trying to get national coverage because there's no telling where this individual is right now.

Somebody somewhere knows who it is or just got to get that one tip that can put them in the direction of the individual that's responsible for this, but the longer he goes, the more difficult that becomes. When he scouted out the area, he clearly scouted out escape routes. This is an individual who did not want to be caught. And so he was very careful in his planning.

BERMAN: A couple of physical characteristics of people have noticed. Number one, Nick Watt was just talking about this video, a doorbell camera from a nearby neighborhood. This is before the shooting. You can see this noticeable limp. But, again, I suppose it's possible he was shielding a gun there.

And then there's the rooftop vantage point where you can see dashing across the roof. And as this extends, you'll see him climbing off the side of the building to the ground. Former FBI, deputy Director Andrew McCabe last night was talking about the fact, you'll see it right here, he's pretty nimble as he gets off the building, onto the ground there, maybe raising questions about whether he could be skilled at rock climbing, which frankly wouldn't be unusual in this part of Utah.

RAMSEY: Yes. No, you are absolutely right. In that first video where it looks like he's limping, he could have something down a trouser lake. When you see him running across the rooftop, he's doing it pretty well. But it does look like he took an awkward landing when he came off that roof that may have caused a slight injury to his leg.

Again, they're going to be looking and analyzing all of this. The other thing that you notice, as you look at still photos, he intentionally avoids touching railings and things of that nature.

[07:10:05]

He is trying not to leave behind traces of himself, whether it's fingerprints, DNA, or what have you. They did recover a palm print. But palm prints are normally not taken if a person is arrested. Now, only time you request a palm print usually is if you've got a burglary suspect or somebody who's left that sort of thing on the scene, and you have to specifically ask for it. It's not normally taken when during the process.

BERMAN: All right. Chief Charles Ramsey, again, overnight, they were saying they're not even sure this man is still in the state. We do not know if they have a name. Obviously much more to come on this. Thank you very much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Over in Colorado, authorities say that the suspect in the shooting at a Colorado high school appears to have been radicalized by an extremist network. This morning, we're going to bring you the latest on what we're learning about that.

And here's a quote for you, stay within the bounds, Judge Aileen Cannon, cutting off the rambling opening statement of a man on trial for attempting to assassinate President Trump at his golf course.

And a man finds out the answer -- finds the answer, because I know we were all searching for it to the question, can you get arrested for driving a Barbie Jeep while intoxicated?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:15:00]

BERMAN: All right. This morning, officials in Colorado say a 16-year- old student who opened fire in the campus of a Denver area high school was, quote, radicalized by an extremist network. New video shows students hiding in a classroom. The shooting left two students critically injured. Officials say the shooter then turned the gun on himself.

CNN's Whitney Wild has all the new developments here. Radicalized by an extremist group, did they explain what that means?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: John, they did not provide any further detail saying only that information would be released at a later time. That 16-year-old suspect has been identified as Desmond Holly, a student at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado.

It is not clear, John, how Desmond Holly obtained the weapon that he used in this shooting. What law enforcement is saying is that he used a revolver, a single handgun that he reloaded over and over and over. He took the bus to school with a significant amount of ammunition.

Around 12:24 Mountain Time this is when the shooting started and what law enforcement described was an enormous scene with windows shot out, lockers shot out, plunging this school of 900 students into terror, into chaos. Here's more from some of the students who were at school at those very moments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just sounded like a bookshelf fell.

WILD: You were like, what dropped? Like what?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew it was a gunshot. My heart went to my stomach, but I was like, if I'm ever in a school shooting, like I'm going to be so worried where my siblings are. So, I'm so glad that we were together. And I wasn't worried about what they were, are they okay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: John, more than a hundred law enforcement officers arrived on that scene. The first officers were there within two minutes. Within five minutes, they interacted with the shooter, who again died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

This was an enormous law enforcement response. The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement has obtained search warrants for the suspect's locker, phone, and home. Finally, John, law enforcement says that the parents are cooperating in this case. John?

BERMAN: All right. Whitney Wild, obviously more information coming still in this investigation. Thank you for your reporting on this.

New video of the rush to save a little girl hurt in a gassed truck explosion, how the grandmother used her own body to shield the child from danger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, yesterday last night, there was quite a bit more than just baseball happening at Yankees Stadium.

Let's get right over to CNN's Andy Scholes, who's got the full rundown for you. Hey there, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Kate. It's the 24th anniversary of 9/11, and President Trump in attendance at Yankees Stadium. This is only the third time ever a sitting president has been to Yankees Stadium for a game. And the last time, it was that iconic moment when George W. Bush threw out the first pitch before game three of the World Series back in 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11, while President Trump, he went into the Yankees clubhouse before the game and spoke with the team.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: You're going to win. You're going to go all the way, and you'll get into the playoff. And I think you're going to do -- I think we'll start off -- how about tonight? We'll start from tonight off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And President Trump then shook hands with everyone he joked with. He wished Aaron Judge was a little bit bigger and President Trump. He may have been good luck for Judge and the Yankees. He was sitting in an upper level suite for the game. And authorities, they installed bulletproof glass on the outside for extra security.

And with President Trump watching, Judge, he homered in his first two at bats of the game. He's now tied for fourth on the Yankees all time home run list with the great Joe DiMaggio with 361. Yankees would win big over the Tigers, 9-3, and they were wearing FDNY and NYPD hats for the 24th anniversary of 9/11.

Here was Judge afterwards on the special night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AARON JUDGE, 46 HOME RUNS THIS SEASON: We're not wearing the N.Y. hat we're wearing, you know, the hats of those that, you know, went out there when it was kind of the darkest hour. They, you know, went right into danger to save, you know, people they didn't even know. So, it's just -- it's more than a game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Meanwhile, week two of the NFL season kicking off last night at Lambeau Field. Before the game, they held a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The National Football League asks that you please join us in a moment of silent reflection following the murder of Charlie Kirk. The NFL condemns all violence in our communities. It will take all of us to stop hate. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. And as for the game, the Packers, well, they continue to look like Super Bowl contenders. Micah Parsons was in the backfield chasing around Jay Daniels all night long. He had three Q.B. hits and a half sack.

In the fourth quarter with the Packers up by seven, Jordan Love, he had a good game. He finds Tight End Tucker Craft. A huge game for Craft, 124 yards receiving in that touchdown. Green Bay, they would win 27-18 to improve to 2-0 on this season.

It's going to be a big weekend in the NFL, Kate. You got a Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and the Eagles. Eagles, of course, won back in February.

Fun fact for you, Patrick Mahomes, he's never lost three games in a row in his career. He lost in week one. He lost in the Super Bowl. This would be three if he loses to the Eagles. So, I would count on a Chiefs victory. We will see.

BOLDUAN: I'm sure that's one stat, one fun fact that Patrick Mahomes doesn't find so fun right now, Andy.

[07:25:04]

Well, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Coming up for us, new this morning, Prince Harry pops up in Ukraine. What we're learning about his surprise trip there.

And as a huge manhunt, the huge manhunt continues to find Charlie Kirk's killer, there's also growing anxiety on Capitol Hill about safety measures there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KEVIN CRAMER (R-ND): Being inaccessible, but being inaccessible is starting to look like being vulnerable. So, I think there a lot of us are concerned about that. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]

BERMAN: All right. These are live pictures outside Trump Tower here in Manhattan. That is where the president.