A man dressed in a white lab coat was arrested Thursday for allegedly sneaking into the area where Charlie Kirk was assassinated, telling police he was “reminiscing and filming the scene.”
Russell Kim Kennington — who officials say is not a suspect in Kirk’s murder — crossed two sets of yellow crime scene tape at Utah Valley University campus before officers discovered he snapped a selfie and took photos of the area and investigators, KUTV reported.
When police ordered Kennington, 38, to identify himself, he allegedly fled but was eventually caught after a short pursuit.
A man dressed in medical clothing was arrested for trespassing at Utah Valley University. Fox13“There was two sets of yellow crime scene tape up that Russell would have to of [sic] crossed to make it to the main incident crime scene,” stated the affidavit, obtained by KUTV.
Video obtained by the outlet shows the crime scene intruder being escorted in handcuffs by authorities into the back of an unmarked police vehicle.
Following his arrest, Kennington identified himself and told police he was “reminiscing and filming the scene.”
The alleged prowler said he entered the active crime scene by “following the shadows” and was attempting to avoid detection, so as not to “disturb” the ongoing investigation.
Cops said they found a selfie the 38-year-old had snapped at the scene after accessing his phone.
The man allegedly took photos of the crime scene where Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Fox13
The active crime scene where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025. REUTERSKennington was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail.
He has been charged with suspicion of capital obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, and criminal trespass, a class B misdemeanor, according to the outlet.
Kirk was addressing an audience of around 3,000 people at the inaugural stop on his nationwide American Comeback Tour when he was fatally shot by a sniper, who was perched on the Losee Center building, around 200 yards away.
The crime scene intruder has been charged with felony obstruction and trespassing. Fox13Kirk was about 20 minutes into the event, answering a question about mass shootings by transgender people in the US, when the tragedy unfolded.
The person of interest in Kirk’s assassination was still at large on Thursday evening.
New footage released by the FBI on Thursday showed the alleged assassin jumping off his rooftop sniper’s nest after killing Kirk during the activist’s famed “Prove Me Wrong” debate.
Erika Kirk raises her hand as Vice President JD Vance and US Air Force pallbearers escort the remains of Charlie Kirk past members of the family to Air Force Two at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base on Sept. 11, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. X/@tylerbowyerKirk leaves behind his wife, former Miss Arizona Erika Frantzve, and two young children.
Vice President JD Vance arranged for Kirk’s body to be flown out of Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City aboard Air Force Two back to his home state of Arizona on Thursday.
The vice president and second lady Usha Vance accompanied the political activist’s widow, family and friends on the flight, landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport later that day.
Kirk’s wooden casket was then transferred by hearse to Phoenix’s Hansen Mortuary Chapel.
