Authorities have arrested a suspect in the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk after the deadly attack at a US university, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief Kash Patel said Wednesday, who later confirmed that the detainee was released.

Patel reported that the suspect He was released after a police interrogation and stated that "our investigation continues and we will continue to release information for the sake of transparency," while emphasizing that the release of the suspect does not imply the closure of the case.

According to the FBI, the man was detained for several hours and cooperated with the agents in the interrogation. Authorities have not revealed his identity or possible motives for the attack, and are pursuing several lines of investigation in coordination with local law enforcement.

The Utah State Police, represented by Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, reported that the only initial evidence they have is closed-circuit camera footage obtained on campus, which is being analyzed to identify the suspect.

Utah Valley University stated that the incident occurred around 12:20 pm at an outdoor event, during which a single gunshot was heard as Kirk was answering questions at an event part of his 'American Comeback Tour' in which he engages in heated discussions with liberal-minded people.

Charlie Kirk, 31, from Arlington Heights, a suburb north of Chicago, has become one of the most visible faces of the conservative youth movement in the United States. Founder of Turning Point, he cultivated a close relationship with President Donald Trump, whom he has openly supported in his political and electoral agenda.

Tonight, Trump said in a message broadcast on his social networks that his Administration “will find those responsible” for the murder of the activist.

“The movement that Charlie started will never stop (…) he died fighting not only for himself, but for you, for Jesus Christ and for this nation,” said Jack Posebic, a political commentator close to Kirk and a contributor to his organization Turning Point USA, in statements to Real America's Voice, the network where Kirk hosted his program “The Charlie Kirk's Show”.

Posebic, who was a frequent guest on Kirk’s show and referred to him as a “close friend”, threatened the “radical left” in the US on the broadcast.

“Did you think things were bad before? That we were doing too much? You just took one of our friends away from us. This is what you have done to our country. What comes next, it will be your fault,” he declared.

On the same program, Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Trump and strategist during his first term, went a step further and noted that Kirk “is a victim of the political war that is being waged” in the US.

Political Violence in the US

“We are at war (…) there will be prayers, mourning and flags at half-staff, but we must maintain an iron resolve,” he added.

A similar message was echoed on the Fox network, a traditional media outlet, by Jesse Watters, a political commentator and television host.

“They are at war with us,” said Watters, after listing the various instances of political violence in the US, including the attacks on Trump and two officials at the Israeli embassy in Washington.

“This is unacceptable and it has to stop. We are listening to everything they are saying, the politicians, the media and all the rats out there (…) this is a turning point and we already know which direction we are going,” he added.

Kirk was shot in the neck while participating in a debate at the University Utah Valley, in front of hundreds of people. He was taken in critical condition to Timpanogos Hospital in Orem, where he died.