FBI Director Kash Patel faced sharp criticism from current and former officials after incorrectly announcing on social media that a suspect had been caught in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. The claim was quickly contradicted by local officials, leading to confusion.

“It’s counterproductive. At the outset of an investigation, much of the initial intelligence is typically wrong or slightly off,” said retired FBI agent Dan Brunner. Patel’s approach drew comparisons to unconventional methods, with former official John Cohen calling it “unorthodox and could be confusing”.

A White House source described Patel’s announcement as “unprofessional” and said his performance “is really not acceptable”. But White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended Patel, saying, “Kash Patel is leading the manhunt to catch the killer of our friend, and everyone is supporting him”.

The FBI later clarified two people were questioned and released, and released photos of a person of interest. A $100,000 reward was announced, dismissed as “embarrassing” by activist Laura Loomer. Patel, a Trump loyalist with no law enforcement background, has pushed out FBI employees seen as disloyal, drawing concern from agents about the investigation’s progress.