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Manhunt Underway after Assassination of Charlie Kirk. Aired 6- 6:30a ET

Aired September 11, 2025 - 06:00   ET

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

BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: And today marks the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.

[06:00:06]

Memorial services are planned in New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon in the morning before traveling up to New York to attend a Yankees baseball game.

The vice president is set [SIC] in New York.

There will also be readings of names of the victims, along with moments of silence and a tribute to those who are sick or have died as a result of illnesses related to 9/11.

Thank you for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Brian Abel in Washington, D.C. CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It's 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. Thank you for being with us on CNN THIS MORNING. I'm Audie Cornish.

And right now, a manhunt is underway, and a movement is in mourning as officials race to find the person who killed conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was gunned down by a single gunshot during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday. And this is an image of him before that fatal shot.

The FBI is asking the public for any video or information they might have from the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.

I want to make it crystal-clear right now: to whoever did this, we will find you. We will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK. You may have seen images of what looks like an arrest, but officials have released the persons of interest initially taken into custody.

Now they're going door to door, looking for the shooter.

The attack drew condemnation and condolences from across the political spectrum, including from former presidents. In a rare public statement from former President George W. Bush, he wrote, "A young man was murdered in cold blood while expressing his political views. Members of other political parties are not our enemies. They are our fellow citizens."

Former President Barack Obama: "This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy."

And former President Joe Biden also weighed in, saying, the violence, quote, "must end now" and offered prayers for Kirk's family.

And the current president, who himself survived an assassination attempt just last year, issued this statement from the Oval Office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: This is a dark moment for America. Charlie Kirk traveled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good-faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Joining me now for more, CNN senior law enforcement analyst Charles Ramsey.

Thank you so much, Charles, for being with us. I want to start, because people are seeing all kinds of images on social media. And there was this confusion early on where it seemed like people of interest were taken into custody, interviewed, released.

Can you talk about what you -- you were seeing in those moments about that early confusion?

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, first of all, let me offer my condolences to the Kirk family.

Yes, early on, there was a great deal of confusion. There was information that came out of the office of the head of the FBI, saying that the shooter was in custody. And, you know, we saw people being placed in handcuffs and taken away.

You know, during the initial stages of an incident like this, there's always a lot of chaos. That's why, until you know what you have, it doesn't pay to put any definitive statements out about the shooting: whether this is the person that actually committed the shooting. Is it just a person of interest, and so forth? I know everyone wants to know, but it's more important to put accurate

information out than just information.

The other thing I just want to mention here that I think is important: from an investigative standpoint, I know what this looks like, and odds are that it is -- got some kind of political nexus to it.

But if you're the investigator, you have to have an open mind. Could this be something personal? Is it political? You can't afford to speculate and to -- and to get tunnel vision as you're trying to figure out what happened.

Right now, what they're doing is going through videotape. They're interviewing witnesses. They're doing all the things they need to do in order to try to identify the individual that is actually responsible for the murder.

CORNISH: CNN actually spoke with a couple who had attended the event. And I want you to hear what they described in terms of security, because this was a big, open, kind of welcoming event.

[06:05:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMY KING, WITNESS: Literally two minutes before, I looked around, and I had scanned with the thing -- my phone. And there was no security.

We were able to walk right in. I have a ticket. Nobody checked my ticket. We were able to go through the door and go through some students and go all the way down to the front row.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Can you put that in context for us? I mean, especially given that there were attempts on Donald Trump's life, right, where there was an immense amount of security. Talk about what you're hearing from them there.

RAMSEY: Outdoor events are very difficult to secure, first of all.

Secondly, university police departments are not that large. And even though this was somewhat controversial, I don't know how they deployed their individuals. I don't know whether or not they requested some assistance from outside agencies to help secure it or not.

But this is not a -- an elected official. It's not someone where you would set up screening devices looking for weapons. In fact, it's my understanding that in Utah, it's legal to even carry a gun on campus.

So, there are a lot of factors that have to be taken into consideration.

Of course, hindsight, you always say, could you have had more? But would that have actually stopped someone 200 yards away from taking a shot and being successful in assassinating the target? We don't know the answer to all that.

Right now, the main focus -- and there's going to be a lot of insight and debriefing going on about security. But right now, the primary emphasis is on finding the shooter.

That clearly, this was targeted. I mean, here's an individual who had an opportunity to commit a mass shooting, if that's what they wanted to do. But they didn't. They fired a single shot. They hit the target. They -- they got away. They did not leave the weapon behind. Probably picked up the shell casing, although I don't know that for sure. And made their escape.

And again, this was well-planned. And right now, they're -- the longer this goes, the more difficult it is to really identify the individual responsible.

CORNISH: Can you talk more about that just before you go? Because this is unusual, in that Americans are seeing images of this on social media. The moment of impact.

This is -- feels different from, say, the Minnesota lawmaker shooting where we didn't have images of what happened, even though you had a suspect who obviously had gone into a lot of planning.

Can you talk about how this is an inflection point? What do you see as somebody who's been in law enforcement?

RAMSEY: Well, I mean, what you're really looking at is the result of the act, not the actual shooting itself. So, it's good that they have video, because video evidence is going to be crucial in trying to solve this particular case.

I don't know whether or not they were able to recover the actual bullet from him. The penetration was in the neck. It may not have been a through-and-through wound, because it did not strike any other person that was there.

So, if they have the pellet, if they ever do recover the actual rifle, they can make a comparison.

But, yes, there's a lot of video, not just video from the university. Video from people who were filming.

But their attention was not at the building where the shot took place. Their focus was on Mr. Kirk, more than likely. But they may get lucky, and someone may have scanned that area, and they may be able to pick up images that may be of use during the course of the investigation.

CORNISH: That's CNN senior law enforcement analyst Charles Ramsey. We'll be talking to you more in the coming days. Thank you.

And coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, the life and the work of Charlie Kirk, from teen activist to supporter and friend of the president. His pivotal role in conservative media and politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie shared thoughts and ideas, and he was

silenced for those thoughts and ideas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:13:26]

CORNISH: Charlie Kirk was just 31 years old when his life was cut short. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

He started his political career at a very young age, rewriting the rulebook for how the conservative movement reached young voters.

Kirk blended his public appearances and political field work with blunt talk on his podcast and on TikTok. As Brian Todd reports, Kirk died doing what he loved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLIE KIRK, FOUNDER, TURNING POINT USA: That's a lot of people in Utah (ph) coming out.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even in a MAGA ecosystem of fast-moving, sharp-talking media stars, Charlie Kirk stood out.

KIRK: We need more people in jail. We do not have enough people in prison in America.

TODD (voice-over): The 31-year-old father of two rose to fame at a young age, just 18 when he co-founded the group Turning Point USA, which builds support for conservative politics at high schools and colleges.

KIRK: And as I travel the country -- and I'm doing this on college campuses -- I can feel a surge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please take a seat.

TODD (voice-over): Turning Point USA now has chapters on more than 800 campuses, and on the eve of his second inauguration, President Trump credited Kirk with mobilizing the youth vote.

TRUMP: And a man who's got an army of young people, Charlie Kirk, is here, and I want to thank Charlie. Charlie is fantastic. I mean, this guy -- don't believe the stuff when you hear the kids are liberal. They're not liberal. Maybe they used to be, but they're not anymore.

TODD (voice-over): A college dropout born in the suburbs of Chicago, Kirk became a millionaire from the books he wrote, speaking engagements, and his popular podcast, "The Charlie Kirk Show."

On all media platforms, he was a strong voice for conservative causes, including the Second Amendment.

[06:15:02]

KIRK: You don't need all these gun laws if you -- you know, you don't. It's OK if everybody owns guns, if you don't have a bunch of third- worlders coming into your nation that don't abide them and then commit a lot of crimes.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: He is one of the most prominent, I would say, the most successful MAGA media personality of his generation.

He's a little bit like a new-era Rush Limbaugh, you know, of the digital age. But unlike someone like Rush, who hosted a radio show at his home, Kirk is out and about. He's known for doing these public events.

TODD (voice-over): Analysts say Kirk's propensity for being able to take on anyone in a political argument at the drop of a hat propelled him in MAGA circles.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF AND POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Charlie Kirk could debate endlessly. He -- he mastered his brief. Again, obviously, not everyone agreed with him. A conservative media star here.

But he would debate for hours on end with people in the belief of his argument.

TODD (voice-over): As a result, Kirk had the ear of almost everyone in the White House: from President Trump on down.

When he broke with the administration twice this year -- over the bombing of Iran and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files -- the stir in MAGA world was palpable. He later backed down from his call for more transparency in the Epstein case.

KIRK: I'm going to trust my friends in the administration. I'm going to trust my friends in the government to do what needs to be done. Solve it. Ball's in their hands.

TODD (voice-over): In October of last year, Kirk reflected on Trump's defiant gestures right after Trump was shot in an assassination attempt that summer in Pennsylvania.

KIRK: They said, Well, is this someone that you want your kids to grow up and to look up to? I say, yes, I'm going to tell my son that, in the line of fire, that if you ever think as if things could ever get dark and you rise and you say, "Fight, fight, fight." I want my son to be like that one day.

TODD: And true to form, Charlie Kirk was engaging with an audience in that last appearance in Utah, answering questions from the audience about mass shootings in the U.S. just moments before he was shot.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CORNISH: Charlie Kirk, as we just heard, was more than just a trusted supporter and adviser to the president. He was family to the Trumps.

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted last night, "Charlie wasn't just a friend. He was like a little brother to me."

And not many people in President Trump's orbit dared to challenge him the way that Charlie Kirk did. And Trump's response to the shooting reflects the depth of that relationship, Kirk's role, and Kirk's role in the conservative movement.

Joining me now in the group chat today, CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein; along with Mike Dubke, former Trump White House communications director; and Democratic strategist Meghan Hays.

Betsy, I want to turn to you first, because you've been doing some writing about this. Can you -- lots of people might say they have a relationship with the White House, might say they helped the election in some way. What was actually distinct about Kirk?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think it's hard to understate the role that he played in 2024 in galvanizing and mobilizing young voters. He was absolutely critical to some of those turnout and grassroots organizing operations.

But more than that, he's a trusted aide or, excuse me, a trusted advisor to President Trump, but also a very close, like, family member to the Trump's.

He is someone that would work with any range of cabinet secretaries. He had a direct line to all of them. And it's really hard to overstate how he was able to develop those relationships.

He could disagree with the president, and without being criticized. He was admired and respected by President Trump. He was someone who was close with J.D. Vance. He pushed the president to select him as his vice president.

There was also some discussion about a role for Kirk in the Trump administration after the election in November, and ultimately, the decision was made that he could be more influential as an outside influencer.

CORNISH: I want to talk about that kind of with our messengers here, because one of the reasons why this is so striking -- and maybe you guys might feel this -- if you are someone who is in the public space, talking about politics, this is a terrifying prospect.

Can you talk about him, Mike, as a messenger, what he represented within the movement?

MIKE DUBKE, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: So, I was -- I did not know Charlie Kirk. And I have to say, when this news came out yesterday, it really hit me like a ton of bricks.

Because I think what he represented, beyond all of the connections to the White House and the cabinet, I think what he represented just for the American political process was the best of what we want our politicians and elected officials and everyone that gets involved in politics to do, which is to have an open debate.

He was not afraid to walk into the lion's den, so to speak, and have that debate and be respectful. And that is the thing that I think really affected me the most, that this is what we ask our young people to do, is to stand up, debate, disagree with each other.

[06:20:04]

But then at the end of the day, all understand that we're working towards the same better America.

And that was taken in Utah yesterday by an assassin's bullet. And I don't think there's any other way to describe it.

So, for me, actually, this really hit me hard.

CORNISH: Yes.

DUBKE: And -- and I'm not somebody, unlike several of my friends, who were friendly with -- with Charlie. This hit me really hard.

CORNISH: Yes. Meghan, what Mike is saying here is fascinating, because what Kirk did going on campuses and also online was always about direct engagement.

So, I think for a youth generation, even of liberals, they know him, because there was this constant, steady stream of content of confronting him and being in dialog, being in conversation. What do you think is -- is the inflection point about this moment?

MEGHAN HAYS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think that one thing that's really -- I think we don't understand how much -- how deep his reach is, right?

Like, my 15-year-old niece, who's a sophomore in high school, posted something on Instagram last night about it. And I called her, and I was asking her. And she was telling me all of her friends were talking about this, and they're 15 years old.

And -- and it's just -- it's so upsetting that they -- they have now seen this video and that this is what they are seeing for politics.

We are better than this as Americans. We are better this as people. And I just -- that's really upsetting.

And one thing: we get the privilege of sitting here together. And we go back and forth, as we've all talked about, on all these different shows and -- and get to spar back and forth on our views.

We don't agree at all on policy. But when we leave here, we're talking about family. Just before, we were showing pictures of your trip to the Buffalo game. And it's just -- it's -- people don't realize that there is a friendly tenor to the disagreements here. And you can disagree on the policy, but that doesn't mean you are violent.

And I think that is what's missing with a lot of people on the fringes of both parties. They think that violence is the answer, and it's not. The actual dialog is the answer.

And that is one thing that he stood for. And that is admirable. And both parties should take note of that.

CORNISH: All right, you guys. Stay with us. We're going to talk more, especially about this escalation of political violence.

After the break. Charlie Kirk's death has brought renewed calls from lawmakers to address this.

And we want to give you a live look here from the White House. President Trump has ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff through Sunday in Kirk's honor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:26:41]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Political violence has become all too common in American society. And this is not who we are.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): We saw it in Minnesota. We saw it in Butler, Pennsylvania. It's got to stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The country is divided. There's a lot of bitterness. Violence is no solution.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): The assassination of Charlie Kirk risks an uncorking of political chaos and violence that we cannot risk in America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The assassination of Charlie Kirk is more evidence of the rise in political violence in this country.

In the last 14 months alone, there were two attempts on President Trump's life' the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on the streets of New York; an arson fire at the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro; and the fatal shootings of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home by a gunman, who then went on to attack a second lawmaker and his wife. They managed to survive.

Now, as we speak, the man accused of trying to kill President Trump is on trial. So, what are we learning from these cases that could help us understand how to move forward and what are potential attackers possibly picking up from one another?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: We have not seen this pace before, and this is a challenge for the behavioral analysis unit people at the FBI. Do they drive each other? Do they inspire each other? Does one spur the next one? Is it contagion?

Is this going to be the normal pace? Is there something to draw that back? And they're struggling with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Joining me now to discuss is Dr. Stephanie Leite, a forensic psychologist.

Thanks for being with us here this morning.

DR. STEPHANIE LEITE, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST: It's a pleasure.

CORNISH: As we've been saying, there is still a search on for the suspect. So, we don't know anything about them. We don't know their motive for this killing.

We hear both lawmakers and leaders that they're looking at this as an assassination. And they're looking at this with concern. How are you seeing this in terms of as a warning sign or even what to look for with this particular suspect?

LEITE: Well, clearly, from my perspective, as someone who specializes in preventing targeted violence, this is an example of a time when targeted violence wasn't prevented and someone chose the target, which unfortunately was Charlie Kirk, and engaged in that assassination.

CORNISH: Can you talk about why you delineate between the targeted violence versus something else? What is it about this particular behavior that is of interest to people in your line of work?

LEITE: Good question. There's the good, the bad, and the ugly in here.

Targeted violence is different than reactive violence, which is more like, I'm upset at you, so I punch you. So, this is a planned attack, which means that there is the potential to see it before it happens and stop it.

CORNISH: There were many young people at this event where he was shot of course, students, what kind of psychological impacts are there to witnessing something like this?

LEITE: There's no doubt that it's absolutely devastating for students. And our students are fragile now anyway. They lost a lot of social skills in COVID, and the schools have to be careful to make sure to react to it.