Utah Governor Spencer Cox has cautioned that bots linked to Russia and China are amplifying disinformation and stoking calls for violence on social media in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, urging Americans to step away from online echo chambers amid a surge of unfounded conspiracy theories.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a key Trump ally, was assassinated Wednesday during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, struck by a sniper's bullet from about 125 meters away in front of roughly 3,000 attendees. The attack, the first known political assassination of a high-profile conservative figure since the 1960s, has ignited fierce partisan blame, with Trump labeling it a "heinous act by the radical left" and ordering national flags at half-staff until Sunday. Kirk, who left behind a wife and young children, was remembered by supporters as a champion of youth conservatism, with vigils drawing crowds near the campus.

At a Thursday evening press conference alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, Cox highlighted the rapid spread of false narratives online, including baseless claims about the shooter's identity and motives. "There is a tremendous amount of disinformation we are tracking," Cox said. "Our adversaries want violence. We have bots from Russia, China, all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence. I would encourage you to ignore those." Quoting Kirk's past advice, he added, "When things get bad, we should put our phones down and spend a little time with our families."

Authorities released new surveillance video showing the suspect—a college-aged male in dark clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and backpack—fleeing across a rooftop before dropping into a wooded area, along with photos of him limping nearby. The FBI has fielded over 7,000 tips since offering a $100,000 reward, recovered the rifle, and pledged the death penalty if captured. Two early detainees were released after clearance, and the probe involves over 20 agencies, with no motive confirmed but early signs pointing to a lone actor.

The warnings come as social media platforms grapple with a flood of posts, some amplifying anti-left rhetoric or false flags about involvement by figures like George Soros or antifa. Cox, a Republican known for bipartisan appeals, framed the interference as a deliberate ploy by foreign actors to exploit U.S. divisions, echoing concerns from cybersecurity experts about state-sponsored bots in past events like the 2020 election.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has cautioned that bots linked to Russia and China are amplifying disinformation and stoking calls for violence on social media in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, urging Americans to step away from online echo chambers amid a surge of unfounded conspiracy theories.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a key Trump ally, was assassinated Wednesday during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, struck by a sniper's bullet from about 125 meters away in front of roughly 3,000 attendees. The attack, the first known political assassination of a high-profile conservative figure since the 1960s, has ignited fierce partisan blame, with Trump labeling it a "heinous act by the radical left" and ordering national flags at half-staff until Sunday. Kirk, who left behind a wife and young children, was remembered by supporters as a champion of youth conservatism, with vigils drawing crowds near the campus.

At a Thursday evening press conference alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, Cox highlighted the rapid spread of false narratives online, including baseless claims about the shooter's identity and motives. "There is a tremendous amount of disinformation we are tracking," Cox said. "Our adversaries want violence. We have bots from Russia, China, all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence. I would encourage you to ignore those." Quoting Kirk's past advice, he added, "When things get bad, we should put our phones down and spend a little time with our families."

Authorities released new surveillance video showing the suspect—a college-aged male in dark clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and backpack—fleeing across a rooftop before dropping into a wooded area, along with photos of him limping nearby. The FBI has fielded over 7,000 tips since offering a $100,000 reward, recovered the rifle, and pledged the death penalty if captured. Two early detainees were released after clearance, and the probe involves over 20 agencies, with no motive confirmed but early signs pointing to a lone actor.

The warnings come as social media platforms grapple with a flood of posts, some amplifying anti-left rhetoric or false flags about involvement by figures like George Soros or antifa. Cox, a Republican known for bipartisan appeals, framed the interference as a deliberate ploy by foreign actors to exploit U.S. divisions, echoing concerns from cybersecurity experts about state-sponsored bots in past events like the 2020 election.