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12:30 REPORT

Thursday, September 11 | By Cate Martel

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It's a sad Thursday for our country.

In today's issue:

FBI releases photo of person of interest
Police recover evidence, video of suspect
WSJ: Ideology engraved on ammunition
Trump to posthumously award Kirk medal
24th anniversary of 9/11
Inflation roars in August

📷 BREAKING

FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk shooting:

The FBI just released two photos of a person of interest in connection with the shooting of 31-year-old conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday. The images show a man wearing a hat and sunglasses, as well as an American flag T-shirt.

📸 See the new photos from the FBI

Officials have also recovered a weapon, a footprint and "good video footage" of the possible shooter. "He jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood," an FBI official said. Officials said Thursday they believe the suspect is college-aged.

Ammunition was reportedly found: The Wall Street Journal reports that investigators found ammunition engraved with transgender and antifascist ideology inside a recovered rifle.

What we know about the assassin: The killer likely fired from a nearby roof. Video footage appears to show a person running on a rooftop of a building just moments after Kirk was shot. When the video is zoomed in and enhanced, an individual is seen wearing dark clothing, approximately 140 yards away from Kirk. 📹 Footage of a person running on the rooftop

📹 Video analysis of how it may have unfolded

This is an important caveat: Details in the investigation are still incredibly fluid. Authorities have repeatedly changed the information they have given both locally and nationally.

^ For example: Two people of interest were taken into custody but later released. At one point, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a "subject" was in custody, but he reversed that announcement shortly after.

Related read, via The New York Times: 'Hopes for a Fast Capture of Kirk's Shooter Fade After Patel Backtracks'

I suggest you follow today's live blog for confirmed updates as they unfold.

🗨️ Follow today's live blog

➤ THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S REACTION:

President Trump announced this morning that he will posthumously award Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff through Sunday and said he plans to speak with the Kirk family later today.

Trump confirmed Kirk's death on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon, sending his sympathies to Kirk's family.

Just a few hours later, the president sat behind the Resolute Desk to record a four-minute video expressing his anger and hinting at his next steps. "My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it," Trump said. 📹 Watch Trump's reaction

Inside the White House: NBC News reports on what happened in the White House when aides — many of whom knew Kirk personally — discovered the news. "Senior communications officials immediately huddled in an area in the West Wing known as Upper Press, where an expletive could be heard as a door shut behind them."

Vice President Vance canceled his plans to visit New York today for the 9/11 anniversary and will instead travel to Utah to pay his respects to Kirk's family.

^ Vance explained his personal friendship with Kirk: Vance said it started with a "DM" in 2017 and has evolved into a close friendship. Vance said he found out that his friend had been shot in group chats while in a West Wing meeting. It's worth reading Vance's post.

What has the reaction been?:

A conservative activist, husband and father of two young children was assassinated in broad daylight. The shooting occurred moments after Kirk sparred with a member of the audience in a debate about gun violence while speaking to students at Utah Valley University.

This sent a shockwave through America, particularly within the conservative movement. Kirk has been a staple on the right since founding the conservative political group Turning Point USA in 2012. He has become a leading commentator in MAGA circles. And he had President Trump's ear.

An outpouring of grief immediately began flooding in from all sides of the spectrum. Political figures condemned all political violence.

But if you're scrolling on social media: The sentiment isn't all positive. I've seen some negative posts from people who disagree with Kirk's political views.

➤ SOME NOTABLE REACTIONS:

📸 Check out today's cover of Time: "Enough," it reads.

All living former presidents called for an end to political violence: Each of the living former presidents issued separate statements but echoed the same sentiment: Political violence is not OK.

This was a rare moment of unity: The Young Democrats of Connecticut and Connecticut Young Republicans issued a joint statement, condemning the shooting. "We reject all forms of political violence," they said. "There is no place in our country for such acts regardless of political disagreements."

Ezra Klein said it well in a New York Times op-ed: "You can dislike much of what Kirk believed and the following statement is still true: Kirk was practicing politics in exactly the right way. He was showing up to campuses and talking with anyone who would talk to him." Read his op-ed

On Capitol Hill: Shouting broke out on the House floor after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) held a moment of prayer. Read more on the outburst

From late-night host Jimmy Kimmel: "Instead of angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human," Kimmel posted.

And from 'The Late Show's' Stephen Colbert "Political violence only leads to more political violence," Colbert said.

➤ TO MAKE IT AN EVEN MORE HORRIBLE DAY:

Three students are critically injured after a high school shooting in the Denver metro area Wednesday. The incident happened around the same time Kirk was shot.

The suspected shooter died by suicide.

📈 OTHER NEWS

New inflation data just dropped:

Inflation accelerated in August, according to new data from the Labor Department.

The numbers: "The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4 percent last month, up from a monthly gain of 0.2 percent in July, and 2.9 percent over the past 12 months. The numbers were in line with the expectations of economists."

💡 Why this is significant: This complicates the Federal Reserve's decision on whether to lower interest rates. The Fed is expected to meet next week to decide, and it has been rumored to lower interest rates. However, rising inflation could boost the risks of stagflation.

Can you believe it's been 24 years?:

The U.S. is commemorating the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks today. The names of the victims are being read in Lower Manhattan. President Trump attended the Pentagon ceremony this morning with first lady Melania Trump.

💻 Watch the ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City

💻 Watch the Pentagon ceremony

➤ BITS AND PIECES:

NPR named Thomas "Tommy" Evans as its new editor in chief.
The British ambassador to the U.S. was fired over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

➤ MORE READS:

The Hill: Democrats, discombobulated, say they lack agenda beyond 'Trump is bad'

Analysis in The New York Times: Russia's Strategy Against the West: Escalate Slowly and See if It Responds

COMING UP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington and is heading to New York this afternoon. Vice President Vance visits Utah. (All times EST)

4 p.m.: Trump leaves for New York.

7 p.m.: Trump attends a Yankees game.

🐝 INTERNET BUZZ

🍞 A reason to celebrate: Today is National Hot Cross Buns Day.

💰 Elon Musk was briefly dethroned: Tech billionaire Elon Musk lost his title of "world's richest person" Wednesday to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison when Oracle stock jumped. But by Wednesday evening, Musk rose back to the top spot.

👋 AND FINALLY…

It's been a heavy day, so I want to leave you with something lighter. Could you please watch Maya the seal for a second?

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