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CNN This Morning
New Video and Photos Released of Suspect in Kirk Killing; Conservative Movement at a Crossroads after Kirk Killing. Aired 6- 6:30a ET
Aired September 12, 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: There was a special ceremony ahead of the game to remember the victims of the attack. And earlier in the day, there were memorial events at several locations, including Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed; the Pentagon, where American Flight 77 crashed; and at Ground Zero, where two of the hijacked planes toppled the World Trade Center towers.
[06:00:15]
Thank you for joining us here on EARLY START this morning. I'm Brian Abel in Washington, D.C. CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: The America we're waking up to on this Friday, it doesn't feel like it did just a few days ago. We're going to try and get a handle on it.
CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.
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GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: We cannot do our job without the public's help right now.
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CORNISH: The shooter who assassinated Charlie Kirk is still out there, and we have new video of his escape, but no clue who he is or where he's hiding.
And conservatives at a crossroad. Will young Republicans continue his legacy of spirited debate, or will the movement take a dark turn?
And what makes people snap? How ordinary people consume radical ideas and end up on a path to violence.
And those gruesome images, the wild speculation. If your feed is like mine this morning, it is troubling, to say the least.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like being accessible, but being accessible is starting to look like being vulnerable.
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CORNISH: Political figures, living in fear. How can our leaders possibly get close to the people and stay out of harm's way?
It's 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. Here is a live look at the White House. Good morning, everybody. It is Friday, September 12. I want to thank you for waking up with me. I'm Audie Cornish, and here's where we start.
The FBI hopes newly-released images and video of the suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing will help them track down the gunman, who remains on the run.
Now, this surveillance video shows the suspected gunman fleeing across the roof of a building on the Utah Valley University campus. So, then he leaps down and runs into a nearby neighborhood.
Utah's governor says the FBI has now gotten more than 7,000 leads and tips in the investigation, the most since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. They're also offering $100,000 for information leading to the suspect's arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COX: We cannot do our job without the public's help right now. We -- 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 -- to even more tips.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: CNN has also obtained this video, which appears to show a person matching the suspect's description walking in a neighborhood before the shooting. The person is seen heading in the direction of the Utah Valley University campus.
Joining me now to talk about this, CNN senior national security analyst, Juliette Kayyem.
Juliette, good morning.
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Thank you. Good morning. Thanks for having me.
CORNISH: So, I'm hearing two things.
One is that they have images that they haven't released, and there are images that they are releasing, hoping that it will add to the case.
Can you talk about this strategy, what they're trying to do?
KAYYEM: Yes. They're -- they're releasing the pieces of information that would possibly give an identification of him. So, let's just be clear. They have no idea who he is, and they have no
motive. So, we know that they don't know the name. So, they're not able to match the face to the -- to a name, which would then let them find him.
So, this is serious. And it's late, because the longer he has to get away -- he could be anywhere in the country right now -- the harder it will be to find him.
They're gleaning (ph) the pictures that may not be relevant to identification; that may help give them additional tools to try to find him. So, sort of think about it in two parts.
But, you know, the longer he has, the harder (AUDIO GAP). It only takes one tip, as we know from -- from the shooting of the CEO, health care, the head of this of -- of the health care. But I am -- let's just put it this way, Audie. I'm surprised that they don't even have a name yet.
CORNISH: That was going to be my next question. In the era of doorbell cameras and, I mean, just everyone having phones. And now, I think he said 7,000 tips. There's a lot of information coming in.
How is that helpful in this situation?
KAYYEM: Well, eventually -- I've looked at the pictures. So, let's put it this way. If I knew him in the past, if he were a neighbor or a friend, someone I sat next to in school, you'd probably be able to identify him. The glasses are distinguishable. The gait, the -- the weight, the height.
[06:05:11]
And so, the -- lots of people are thinking, maybe I know this person, are calling in. It's not the right person. All you need is one person to recognize and be willing to come forward. That's why the reward is higher at this stage.
And so, the FBI made some missteps at the beginning. And the director, Kash Patel, got way ahead of where the investigation was. That now has to be wound back. And -- and then the focus now needs to be not a retweeting or -- or what are we saying? But let's -- let's find this guy.
CORNISH: I want to bring up something with you, because it surprised me. It felt a little left-field, but we heard it from the Utah governor. And you've got this national security background, so maybe you can help us. Here he is.
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COX: What we're seeing is our adversaries want violence. China. We have bots from Russia, China, all over the -- the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence. I would encourage you to ignore those, to -- to turn off those streams and -- and to spend a little more time with -- with our families. We desperately need some healing.
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CORNISH: Can I get your reaction to -- to that?
KAYYEM: First, my overall reaction is Governor Cox has been absolutely tremendous as a leader of -- in a very tumultuous moment in the United States' history. He has -- he has led with grace and empathy and an understanding that this is a moment to unite Americans.
And compare that to what we're hearing from -- including and from the -- from President Trump, who is trying to create a narrative about this political assassination which is not consistent with the facts.
And -- and -- and Governor Cox has sort of taken the lead moment at this stage. And he is warning Americans that -- that not only are we angry at each other, but that our adversaries, China and Russia, are looking, knowing we're angry at each other, and feeding us increasing information that is going to -- is -- is going to escalate rather than de-escalate.
It was a sophisticated thing to mention to the American public, and to viewers and to people online, because it needs to -- we need to be reminded that others benefit from the fractures that we have in our -- in our country; and those include foreign enemies like Russia and China.
And we're seeing it. I see it on my feed, as well. I mean, you're seeing the -- the -- look, China and Russia are ready for moments like this.
CORNISH: Yes.
KAYYEM: We've seen it during racial riots. We've -- we've seen it in elections. They were ready for something. And they're using this moment to divide us.
CORNISH: OK. CNN's senior national security analyst. Juliette, pleasure to talk to you.
KAYYEM: Thank you.
CORNISH: Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, from sorrow to anger. The reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk in conservative circles.
Plus, we're hearing this morning from the student who asked Kirk a question moments before he was shot.
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HUNTER KOZAK, WITNESSED SHOOTING: It's a tragedy, and I don't -- it's hard to grapple with. And I'm part of a community that's struggling to grapple with it right now.
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CORNISH: A turning point happens to be precisely where the conservative movement finds itself right now, in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination.
Many supporters of his Turning Point organization are vowing to double their donations. They're concerned that the political violence won't end soon. I want you to hear these young conservatives who spoke to CNN's Elle Reeve.
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SEAN MCCROSSEN, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: I think people are going to become a lot more radical. I think that goes without saying. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, you could determine. But people are -- people are upset.
RYAN LEONARD, YOUNG CONSERVATIVE: I take no pleasure in -- in thinking this way. But things might be about to get a lot worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Now, it's not hard to understand those concerns, because moments after that shot rang out in Utah, you had firebrands like Steve Bannon and Alex Jones, who were ratcheting up the rhetoric.
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ALEX JONES, FORMER PODCASTER: We're in a war.
STEVE BANNON, FORMER TRUMP SENIOR ADVISOR: Charlie Kirk's a casualty of war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: All right. Joining me now in the group chat, Noel King, co- host and editorial director of the "Today Explained" podcast; CNN political commentator Brad Todd; and Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright.
All right, you guys, thank you so much for being here. It's been, obviously, a very difficult week.
I know what people don't think is appropriate. So, here's an example. "The New York Post" posting images of someone that they're saying is celebrating his death. And I know people criticized that.
What are you seeing online within these communities -- conservative, left -- about how to talk about this?
NOEL KING, CO-HOST, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, "TODAY EXPLAINED" PODCAST: I see people talking to each other. So, I see conservatives having conversations about, do we go out into the streets? Do we radicalize? I mean, that is the word you're hearing right now. Or do we take a
step back and look at the parts of Charlie Kirk's life that were about engaging in debate, talking to people, whether you disagree with them or not.
And in fact, embracing the -- the discussions with people that you disagree with.
[06:15:04]
And then on the left, what I'm seeing is, you know, Ezra Klein, I think quite famously yesterday, wrote this op-ed about, you know, Charlie Kirk was doing politics right.
And there's --
CORNISH: Yes. This was in "The New York Times."
KING: "New York Times." And the response was immediate from, you know, people who I think really respect Ezra Klein saying, but look at the way Charlie Kirk talked. Do you really think that is an example of doing politics right?
One thing that I would like to see more of -- maybe we won't see it -- it is 2025 -- is people within these groups talking to each other about the best way forward.
CORNISH: I'm not sure we'll see that. I want you to hear two lawmakers. Here's Representative Nancy Mace yesterday.
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REP. NANCY MACE (R-SC): Democrats own this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But is there is there a problem with political -- political violence across the spectrum?
MACE: Yes, we're talking about Charlie Kirk right now. That's the subject of this that we're talking about right now. Democrats own this, 100 percent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: And then usually the conversation goes like this. Here's Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): It was extremely disturbing, using rhetoric of vengeance and violence. Whether it is a member of Congress, whether it is the president of the United States, to assume and assert and cast blame when the FBI has failed to even apprehend the assailant, is absolutely an irresponsible action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. I don't know who wants to go first, but lawmakers struggled even to have a moment of silence this week.
ANTJUAN SEAWRIGHT, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think part of this is what I said a few weeks ago on this program. It's much easier to be angry than it is informed. And being angry has been a selling point for some on the right.
And bringing out the anger, frustration, and confusion has been politically successful for some. And we're seeing that play out.
I think the broader frustration I have seen, to this point, is selective empathy and limitations on compassion. And those two things tend to be very counterproductive.
CORNISH: Selective empathy.
SEAWRIGHT: Yes.
CORNISH: What do you mean by that? And Brad, I want you to -- to jump in.
SEAWRIGHT: Because the outrage I see from my friends and others online for the Charlie Kirk shooting is a lot different than we saw from the Minnesota assassination or the Buffalo shooting, or in my case, the Charleston, South Carolina, shooting.
We didn't see this kind of response from some on the right. It was almost like business as usual.
And now, because it happened to someone they agree with or are aligned with their politics, we've seen a different response. And I think that's counterproductive for universal consciousness.
BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, I think what I worry about is the -- is the threat to dialogue. Ezra Klein's comment, if Charlie Kirk was doing things right. Because what Charlie Kirk was doing was going into a place where almost no one agreed with him, very few people agreed with him. And challenging people to an actual debate and debate on substance and on the merits.
Ezra then celebrated that on the op-ed pages of "The New York Times," a place where that also ought to be a forum for people to express those things. And he gets shouted out, because he celebrated dialogue.
We cannot have a death of dialogue in this country. We cannot have a death of conversation. And that's -- that's the thing that I'm most concerned about here, is that people will give up on the idea that we should exchange ideas and debate.
SEAWRIGHT: The only thing is, Charlie Kirk was a big fan of free speech, but now we have some essentially saying free speech is a bad thing. So, it's -- again, it's counterproductive.
And I think it's selective, based on what you feel is right for you and your crowd. And I think that's where the problem is, and that's where we have to draw the line. CORNISH: One of the things I've been thinking about is any political
movement that rises to the central consciousness, if they deal with political violence.
Look, thinking back to the '60s, you have to think about how you respond in these moments, because then it's about the direction of your movement.
KING: Right.
CORNISH: Right? When King or other people were shot, every single time, it was, is it going to be a riot or is it going to be a conversation?
KING: And what's so interesting here is that Charlie Kirk spoke to young people. And so, his death -- I mean, you've seen this on CNN.
CORNISH: Yes.
KING: His death really affected young people.
My hope is those young people advocate, run for office, protest peacefully or march peacefully, if -- if, you know, if that's what they feel is in their hearts. But I -- I have a lot of faith in America's youth.
CORNISH: Yes.
KING: I really do. I think they looked at a guy like Charlie Kirk and they were like, we like what he's doing. We like that he's sitting down and having debates with people. That is why they admired him, in a lot of cases.
And so, hopefully, they will take that message.
CORNISH: Yes.
KING: This is how we conduct ourselves.
CORNISH: But you hear them conflicted.
KING: Deeply conflicted.
CORNISH: You hear the student who mentioned -- the student who was there --
KING: Deeply conflicted.
CORNISH: -- asking him a question --
KING: Yes.
CORNISH: -- about gun violence. Even he's kind of up there like I -- I'm trying to wrap my mind around how to talk about this.
SEAWRIGHT: The reason I'm hopeful about the future of this country and that we can unite behind this, because every major successful movement in this country, arguably in the history of this world, has been led by young people, mostly under the age of 50, on the front line, pushing for change.
[06:20:03]
CORNISH: They've gotten very mixed messages over the last couple of years about the success of that.
SEAWRIGHT: It's different -- it's different now.
CORNISH: Yes.
SEAWRIGHT: But I think that the one thing young people have been very good at is making adjustments.
CORNISH: I want to play one last thing before we go to break. This is President Trump. And he was asked about how he wants his supporters to respond in this moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you want to see your supporters respond to this? Charlie Kirk was a big advocate of nonviolence and free speech on campus. How do you want your supporters to respond, sir?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think that way. He was -- he was an advocate of nonviolence. That's the way I'd like to see people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. Group chat, stay with me. We've got a lot more to talk about.
And after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to learn more about the shooter in the Colorado high school shooting. They've been identified. And the concerning information officials revealed about his background.
Plus, the high price of plotting a coup. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sentenced.
And good morning to the city of New York.
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[06:25:21]
CORNISH: Its 24 minutes past the hour. And here is your morning roundup.
Officials say the suspect in Wednesday's Colorado high school shooting appeared to have been, quote, "radicalized" by some extreme network.
He's identified as 16-year-old Desmond Holly, a student at the school. And we're told the day of the shooting, he took ammunition on the school bus.
The teen died after shooting himself. And one of the victims, identified as 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone, he and another student are still in critical condition.
And hundreds of South Korean workers are now headed home after being detained in a massive ICE raid last week. Their plane arrived in Seoul early this morning.
The South Korean government claims they were authorized to work in the U.S., but they were taken into federal custody while working on a Georgia Hyundai battery plant.
Hyundai's CEO says the raid would likely delay planned construction for at least 2 or 3 months.
And former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. The right-wing leader was convicted yesterday of attempting to overturn his country's 2022 presidential election.
Prosecutors argued his plans included assassinating his successor in a bid to stay in power.
And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, for a third day in a row, authorities are searching for a gunman. Now they admit they don't know if Charlie Kirk's killer is still in Utah.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome home, Charlie. You didn't deserve it. May God bless your family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: A somber homecoming. Kirk's casket flown from Utah to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two.
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