Nada Tawfik
Reporting from Utah Valley University

Image source, Nada Tawfik / BBC

Earlier today we arrived at the Utah Valley University campus here in Orem - the site of the killing of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.

While walking through one of the buildings here, we could see through the windows the low-level courtyard where Kirk was fatally shot.

The crime scene is wrapped in yellow tape and feels frozen in time: attendees' personal belongings are still strewn all across the lawn, with abandoned bags and even strollers. The displays from Kirk's event on Wednesday have even been tipped over.

Though we learned some details from investigators at a news conference earlier, we are still waiting to hear more definitive information on the ongoing manhunt - and the suspect's identity and motive.

We'll continue to bring you more information from here on the ground, stick with us.

We're about to start an hour-long special programme on the death of Charlie Kirk in our stream, where our experts and reporters in Utah will analyse what happened yesterday - and answer your questions.

Press watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, EPA

Top Democrats have condemned political violence and urged Americans to unite in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s shooting.

As a reminder, officials confirmed earlier that the killer is still at large and no details have yet been released about the suspect’s motive.

"This is a time that all Americans should come together and feel and mourn what happened," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tells the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

"Violence, which affects so many different people of so many different political persuasions, is an affliction of America, and coming together is what we ought to be doing, not pointing fingers or blame," he adds.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed Schumer’s comments: "This moment requires leadership that brings the American people together, as opposed to trying to further divide us.

"Political violence in any form against any American is unacceptable, should be denounced by everyone."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington

Image source, Bernd DebusmannJr/BBC News

As reporters were leaving the 9/11 memorial service at the Pentagon just a short while ago, President Trump briefly stopped and spoke to us before quickly entering his vehicle to begin the short drive back to the White House.

"I can't believe Charlie," Trump said, seemingly unprompted. "What a great guy he was."

Asked whether he had plans to speak to his family, Trump said that he "has it set for this afternoon".

Additionally, Trump said that "we're going to be talking about" how to bring the country together "very soon," without providing more details.

"We will be discussing [that]. You don't replace a Charlie Kirk. He's unique, as you all know...but, we'll do the best we can."

A reporter also asked for an update on the investigation, to which Trump replied that he had been briefed earlier.

"What you're seeing on the news is what it is," he said. "They have a virtual manhunt out there. We'll see what happens. We hope they get him."

Image source, EPA

On the shooter's identity:

Authorities said they are still working to identify the shooter. Not many details have been released about the suspect, although investigators have been referring to him as male.

Utah’s Department of Public Safety said the suspect "blended in well with the college institution" and “appears to be of college age”.

Authorities said they have images of the shooter, but they’re not releasing them yet - but they will release them if they're unsuccessful and need the public's help.

Authorities also clarified the two people they interviewed yesterday immediately after the shooting were "persons of interest", not suspects.

On the shooter's movements

The suspect arrived on campus at 11:52 yesterday, officials said - just under half hour before Charlie Kirk was shot at around 12:20.

Investigators said he went "onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof to the shooting location".

After the shooting, the shooter then "moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus into a neighbourhood".

At some point, the shooter fled to a wooded area and the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting - a “high-powered bolt action rife” - was found there. Authorities did not say where this wooded area is.

A "footwear impression, a palm print and forearm imprints" have been found by investigators and are being analysed.

US President Donald Trump has announced he will award Charlie Kirk posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The medal is the highest civilian honour awarded in the US.

It is given to people who have made "exceptionally meritorious contributions to the nation's prosperity, values, or security, world peace, or other significant public or private endeavours".

Earlier this month, Donald Trump announced that the former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani would receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2017, President Barack Obama awarded then-Vice-President Joe Biden with the Medal of Freedom.

Image source, Getty Images

Before President Trump spoke at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said a few words on the death of Charlie Kirk.

“The life, example and even death of Christ follower and American patriot, Charlie Kirk, give me hope,” Hegseth said. “Sheer courage, no matter the arena.

“Charlie we love you, we know that you have heard the Lord’s words. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Hegseth ends saying: “Like those on 9/11, he will never be forgotten.”

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, Reuters

I'm currently at the Pentagon, where just moments ago President Trump stepped into the lectern at a memorial service for 9/11.

He began his remarks by addressing the death of Charlie Kirk directly as he spoke to a crowd of several dozen people, including service members in uniform and families of those who fell on 9/11.

"We miss him greatly," Trump told the crowd. "Yet I have no doubt that Charlie's voice and the courage that he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on".

Trump then announced the he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honour that a civilian can be awarded in the US.

"I can only guarantee you one thing - that we will have a very big crowd," he said. "Very, very big."

As he spoke, I saw several members of the crowd, including civilians and several dressed in Army and Marine Corps uniforms, nodding silently.

The significance of Charlie's death was also remarked upon by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who compared him to those who perished on 9/11.

"Charlie; we love you," he said. "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Some more now on President Trump's comments on the killing of Charlie Kirk, as he addresses a 9/11 memorial service.

He starts by referencing the "horror and grief" so many Americans would have felt at the "heinous assassination of Kirk".

The president calls him a "giant" of his generation and a "champion" of liberty who inspired millions.

"We miss his greatly," Trump continues, adding that he has no doubt that both his "voice and the courage that he put into the hearts of countless people will live on".

Image source, Reuters

President Trump has just announced that he will be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The date of the ceremony is yet to be announced, he adds, but says he has no doubt there will be a "very big crowd".

We'll have more on Trump's comments, who is speaking at a 9/11 memorial event, shortly.

We have just heard from the FBI and the Utah Department of Public Safety who gave an update on the manhunt for the killer of Charlie Kirk. Here's what we learnt:

• Officials said they have recovered a weapon - a high-powered bolt-action rifle - believed to be "the weapon that was used in yesterday's shooting"
• The suspect "appears to be of college-age", Utah DPS commissioner said, and blended well into the campus environment
• The investigation has had "a few breakthroughs", including being able to track the shooter's movements as he fled into the neighbourhood, authorities added
• Kirk's family "is devastated," the official described, adding: "I can only imagine what they're going through"
• The two individuals detained and later cleared of the shooting have "faced threats" and "they don't deserve that harassment," the authorities pleaded
• There is "good video" and images of the suspect but officials said they are not releasing it yet as they continue their investigation

• Charlie Kirk's body was moved to the state's medical examiner's office and officials will work to return him to his family, they added

FBI special agent in charge Robert Bohls says they have images of the shooter and don't believe the community is at risk.

Answering a question from a reporter, he says they are "exhausting every resource" to find the shooter.

Bohls says they have images of the suspect but "can't comment specifically on his face" as it remains part of the investigation. "We'll release that shortly," he says.

The special agent adds: "We're not sure how far he has gone yet."

The update from officials has now ended and we'll bring you a summary of the key lines shortly - stick with us.

Answering a question from a reporter, Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason says the suspect "appears to be of college age".

He says the suspect "blended in well with the college institution" before adding: "We're not releasing many details right now. We will soon. But right now, we're not.

"But that individual appears to be of college age."

Next up to speak is FBI special agent in charge Robert Bohls.

He says investigators this morning have recovered "what we believe to be the weapon that was used in yesterday's shooting" - a high-powered bolt-action rifle - in a wooded area where authorities believe the shooter fled.

They have also found and are analysing a "footwear impression" and "a forearm imprint".

Bohls thanks the community for the more than 130 tips the FBI has received so far.

Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason says he cannot imagine what the people at the scene felt yesterday. Some people barricaded themselves in classrooms while others ran in fear, he says.

"I can't overstate the tragedy and the horrific event that yesterday was," he says before adding they will work to bring to justice the individual or individuals involved.

The public safety commissioner continues his statement and says “we do have good video footage of this individual” but they are not going to release it to the public.

If unsuccessful in its investigation, Beau Mason says they will reach out to the media.

The commissioner adds that he spoke to Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika, last night. "The family is devastated” he says.

"I can only imagine what they're going through," he says. "This is not Utah. This is not what we are known for."

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason is first to speak.

He says the investigation has made "a few breakthroughs", including being able to track the shooter's movements.

The suspect arrived near campus at 11:52 local time, he says, adding the team has tracked his movements onto campus, through stairwells up to the roof and across the roof to the "shooting location".

After the shooting, investigators have tracked the suspect's movements across the building, where he jumped off the roof and fled off campus into a neighbourhood, Mason says.

The FBI has begun its press conference on the killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah.

You can follow along by clicking Watch Live above.

Image source, Reuters

As we await an update from the FBI in Utah on the killing of Charlie Kirk, US President Donald Trump is attending a 9/11 memorial event at the Pentagon memorial near Washington.

We are not expecting him at Ground Zero in New York today.

We are listening in to the memorial event - as well as the press conference in Utah - and will bring the key lines on this page. Stick with us.

The FBI are set to give an update on the killing of Charlie Kirk at a news conference in Utah shortly.

It comes as police are still searching for the person behind the shooting and we're expecting an update on the manhunt.

The conference is due to begin in a few minutes, at 07:00 local time (14:00 BST) and will be given by the FBI special agent in charge for the investigation as well as Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason.

You can watch it by pressing Watch Live above, and we'll also bring you the key lines here.