Investigators searching for the man who killed right-wing activist Charlie Kirk have appealed for the public's help, with no one in custody more than a day after a murder that has rocked America's fractious politics.
Mr Kirk, a 31-year-old commentator on the Republican right who harnessed surging youth support for US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while addressing a large crowd at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Hundreds of agents from across 20 law enforcement agencies are combing for clues to the identity of the culprit, but at a yesterday evening media briefing, they appeared to have little to show.
"We cannot do our job without the public's help," Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters, adding they had received more than 7,000 leads.
Watch: Moment suspected Charlie Kirk gunman flees scene
"We need as many, as much help as we can possibly get. Any videos or photos that you might have... should be submitted to our digital media tip line."
FBI Director Kash Patel, who on Wednesday tweeted that agents had someone in custody before having to walk that back, stood mutely as Mr Cox spoke.
No one took any questions from the media.
Pictures released showed a man detectives want to question.
He was wearing Converse shoes, a black baseball cap, dark sunglasses and what appeared to be jeans, with a long-sleeved top emblazoned with a design that included an American flag.
Police say they believe the shooter fired a single bullet from a rooftop up to 180m away, hitting Mr Kirk in the neck.
A video played at the press conference shows a figure running across a roof at the university, then jumping to the ground and making his way off campus towards some trees, apparently the location where a high-powered bolt-action rifle was recovered.
A reward of up to $100,000 was posted for information leading to his capture.
Authorities said the gunman remained at large.
Reflecting the highly political nature of the killing, Mr Kirk's coffin was transported to his home city of Phoenix on JD Vance's official plane.
Footage showed the Vice President with his hands on the casket as it was carried to Air Force 2.
Mr Kirk's widow, Erika, held hands with Mr Vance's wife after the plane arrived in Arizona, the headquarters of the powerful Turning Point USA.
The right-wing mediasphere remained in a state of heightened emotion yesterday, with Fox News contributors recounting the impact Mr Kirk had on their lives.
Fox News host Jesse Watters said the killing showed his side of the political spectrum was under attack.
"Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. And what are we going to do about it?" he asked his audience.
President Trump urged supporters to respond peacefully, telling reporters that Mr Kirk had been "an advocate of nonviolence".
"That's the way I'd like to see people respond," he said.
The US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that Washington may take action against foreigners "praising, rationalising, or making light" of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, adding he had directed consular officials to take appropriate action.
"In light of yesterday's horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," Mr Landau said in a post on social media platform X.
"I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action."
Mr Landau did not elaborate on what such action would mean.
Mr Kirk, whom supporters have hailed as a "martyr", co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to drive conservative viewpoints among young people, with his natural showmanship making him a go-to spokesman on television networks.
The father-of-two used his audiences on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration policies, outspoken Christianity and gun ownership, and to spread carefully edited clips of his interactions during debates at his many college events.
Three months ago, a Minnesota man shot dead a Democratic politician and her husband in their home.
In July 2024, President Trump survived an assassination attempt during his election campaign.
