FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Monday that investigators are examining whether Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin acted alone or was part of a broader plot. He noted evidence suggesting the suspect may have been “consumed” by ideology in the lead-up to the shooting.
Speaking on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom, Bongino explained that while one suspect is in custody, the bureau is also “looking into” potential accomplices.
“If this was a larger effort, if there was any aiding and abetting—whether financial or someone who knew the specifics and failed to report it—we’re looking into that,” he told Bill Hemmer. “There’s not going to be a stone left unturned.”
Investigators are reviewing footage showing the gunman leaping from a rooftop after firing the fatal shot. Bongino said the video was instrumental in helping the bureau crack the case.
“When you’re watching the video, it appears the gun is either in the backpack or on him,” he said. “This is where we got a significant portion of the forensic evidence, which was the key piece of information that cracked this thing open.”
He confirmed reports that the suspect had voiced violent intentions before the attack. “You see this a lot in targeted violence cases, assassinations, school shootings—where the individual expresses in advance his desire to do these things,” Bongino said. “That appears to be the case here as well.”
Family members and coworkers told investigators the suspect had become increasingly political and withdrawn in the weeks leading up to the Sept. 10 assassination of 31-year-old Charlie Kirk.
“It appears from the data we’ve accumulated that this ideology had infected him and taken over,” Bongino said. “He was intent on making Charlie his target, and people may have known in advance. It’s fairly obvious this was an ideologically motivated attack.”
