Friday morning news: September 12, 2025

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Charlie Kirk latest » Authorities last night said a manhunt was still underway for a new person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Law enforcement on Wednesday said they had detained a person of interest, but that individual was cleared and released.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls:

BOHLS:  If any attack on the First Amendment is an attack on the very foundation of our democracy, that is why we will, we will relentlessly pursue this case and the shooter until we find him.

Bohls added that agents believe they have recovered the murder weapon, a high-powered rifle

Authorities released photos on Thursday of a man they are highly motivated to find.

The 31-year-old Kirk was an influential conservative voice with young voters. His campus events drew crowds of thousands … including at Utah Valley University where Kirk was shot on Wednesday.

Routh trial » Meantime, the trial is underway for a man who allegedly plotted to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more:

BENJAMIN EICHER: 59-year-old Ryan Routh is representing himself in the trial. And his defense was not off to a great start on Thursday.

He veered off topic in his opening statement, discussing Hitler and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The judge warned him to stay on topic and twice asked jurors to leave the courtroom.

Routh has pleaded not-guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate nearly a year ago.

Prosecutors told the court Routh's plot against Trump was “carefully crafted and deadly serious.”

Officials say a Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view, thwarting the attempt on Trump’s life.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

9/11 ceremonies » Thousands of Americans gathered yesterday at several locations …

SOUND: [Taps]

… to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

At the Pentagon, President Trump honored Defense Department employees killed in 2001.

TRUMP:  We will defend the nation they serve, the values they upheld, and the freedom for which they died. We will support our troops. We will protect our families, and we will preserve the American way of life for every future generation.

But this year, he was forced to break with tradition.

Normally, the ceremony is observed near the building’s memorial outside its walls. But officials decided to move to the Pentagon’s interior courtyard for security reasons amid heightened political tensions after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

In New York City, residents and officials also remembered those lost on 9/11.

SOUND: [NYC bagpipes]

The ceremony began with a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner followed by the marching of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums.

SOUND: [NYC bagpipes]

And a similar ceremony took place in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Israel latest » Israel continues to face fallout for its attack against Hamas officials in Qatar.

The Israeli military this week carried out airstrikes in the capital city of Doha.

President Trump was asked by reporters how this would affect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, given that until now Qatar has been a go-between.

TRUMP: Well, hopefully it won't affect it at all. We want the hostages out and we want them out soon. Hopefully it won't affect it.

But Qatar's prime minister yesterday said with the strike, Israel likely killed any hope for the release of the hostages still held in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any country that harbors terrorists should not expect Israel to stand idly by.

Meanwhile in France:

SOUND: [Resolution passes]

Members of the European Parliament cheer as a resolution passed to condemn Israel's military offensive in Gaza. That resolution is not legally binding but it does urge the EU to take action to stop the strikes.

It also calls on member states to recognize a Palestinian state.

Colorado investigation » Colorado officials say two high school students remain hospitalized in critical condition after a gunman, reportedly a fellow student, opened fire at their school on Wednesday.

Jackie Kelley with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office:

KELLEY: The suspect had a handgun. He had to keep reloading. This went on and on, and as he did that, he tried to find new targets.

The shooting occurred at Evergreen High School, just west of Denver.

The gunman was identified as 16-year-old Desmond Holly who took his own life after the attack.

KELLEY: Based on some of the information that we're seeing about this suspect, he is radicalized by some extremist network…we want to at least give you that much about maybe mindset for him.

Kelley said the shooter’s parents are fully cooperating with investigators.

Jobs, inflation numbers » New inflation numbers show a mixed picture. Consumer prices rose four-tenths of a percent in August — the fourth straight monthly increase. But core inflation, which strips out volatile sectors like food and energy came in a little lower at three-tenths.

That follows Wednesday’s surprise report showing wholesale prices actually dipped slightly last month.

The jobs market also looks weaker than first thought, with revised data showing the first monthly job losses since 2020.

Still, Wall Street was in a good mood betting the Federal Reserve will cut rates by a quarter point when it meets Wednesday.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, help for the hurting, a conversation with Kevin DeYoung.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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