Authorities announced Thursday that investigators have recovered what they believe to be the weapon used to assassinate conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The announcement was made during a press conference at Utah Valley University.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls stated that the firearm was "a high-powered bolt-action rifle" found in a wooded area near where the shooter fled. He added that the FBI laboratory will analyze the weapon, along with a palm print, forearm imprints, and footwear impressions gathered at the scene. Bohls noted that investigators are still unsure of the suspect’s whereabouts.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason confirmed that the gunman appeared to be “of college age” but declined to provide additional identifying details. He said campus video footage showed the shooter climbing to the roof of a building overlooking Kirk’s event before opening fire. The suspect then jumped down and escaped into a nearby neighborhood.
Mason added that investigators are also analyzing security camera footage of an individual “dressed in all dark clothing,” believed to be the suspect. “The only information we have on the possible shooter is taken from closed-circuit TV here on campus,” he said. “We’re analyzing it. But it is security camera footage, so you can kind of guess what the quality of that is.”
Investigators reported that the shooter arrived at the Utah Valley University campus at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, carrying out the assassination roughly 30 minutes later. Kirk was struck with a single bullet at around 12:20 p.m.
The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that Kirk was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In a statement, the agency said the shooting remains under active investigation. “The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are co-leading this incident in unison with the Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office, and the local police departments,” DPS said multiple active crime scenes are being processed, including the site of the shooting and locations linked to the suspect’s flight.
The murder took place as Kirk, 31, was addressing students during a campus event. He was struck in the neck while responding to a question about mass shootings. Witnesses described scenes of panic as attendees ran for cover. Video footage captured the moment of the attack, showing Kirk clutching his neck before collapsing.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him a “giant of his generation” and a “champion of liberty.”
"I’m pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Trump said during a 9/11 memorial, predicting a “very big crowd” at the ceremony.
Kirk was the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a conservative student movement. He was widely known for his outspoken defense of Israel and Judeo-Christian values, and for his role as one of the most prominent voices among young conservatives in the United States.
Tributes poured in following the assassination. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Kirk “a lion-hearted friend of Israel,” while Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the shooting as a “political assassination.”
The shooter remains at large as federal and state authorities continue the manhunt.