Utah authorities charge man with obstruction, trespassing after visiting Charlie Kirk shooting site

The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Thursday announced it has arrested and charged a man with trespassing and obstruction after he allegedly ignored police tape in order to visit the site where conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was killed.

The department did not release the man's identity but said he was an "unrelated subject," and not the missing shooter that federal and local authorities are still searching for, according to a press release.

Kirk died in the hospital on Wednesday after he was shot in the neck at an event at Utah Valley University. He was just 31-years-old at the time, and leaves behind his wife and two children.

Utah authorities said the man trespassed on school grounds at approximately 1 p.m. Eastern and was taking photographs of the scene. 

"Ignoring police crime scene tape, he entered the secured area and began taking photos of the scene and Law Enforcement Officers," a Utah DPS notice reads. "When an agent ordered him to stop and attempted to identify him, the male fled on foot but was soon apprehended by other officers. He has been booked into the Utah County Jail for felony obstruction and trespassing."

The department reminded the public that taking photographs of the crime scene was not permitted and warned that any drones flying in the area would be confiscated and cited if crime scene footage were found.

Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect in Kirk's shooting but believes it has found the rifle that was used to assassinate the conservative. Cartridges found in the rifle were engraved with antifa and anti-transgender rhetoric.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.