The FBI stated it has recovered what’s believed to be the weapon used within the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the founding father of the conservative youth activist group Turning Level USA, throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College on Wednesday.
A “high-powered bolt motion rifle,” which officers imagine was the weapon used within the taking pictures, was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the taking pictures befell, in accordance with Salt Lake Metropolis FBI Particular Agent Robert Bohls.
The manhunt for the suspect, who’s believed to be college-aged, continues, with officers working “across the clock” to find the person, officers stated throughout a press convention on Thursday.
This display seize from a video by Amy King reveals right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk talking throughout a public occasion at Utah Valley College minutes earlier than he was shot in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025.
Amy King/UGC by way of AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The FBI requested for suggestions from the general public because the manhunt for the perpetrator continues, urging anybody with data, photographs or video from the incident to share it with investigators.
Officers stated they’ve been in a position to monitor the actions of the shooter and have “good” video footage of the person, Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason stated on Thursday. The video footage is not going to be launched to the general public at the moment, Mason stated.
At 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspect arrived on campus after which proceeded to journey by way of the stairwells as much as the roof of a constructing close to the the place the occasion was happening, earlier than the suspect fired down at Kirk, Mason stated.
After the taking pictures, the suspect traveled to the opposite facet of constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason stated. Officers are working by way of close by neighborhoods, contacting folks with doorbell cameras and chatting with witnesses to determine any leads, Mason stated.
Together with recovering the weapon, Bohls stated investigators have additionally collected a footwear impression, palm print and forearm imprints for evaluation.
Officers emphasised the taking pictures was a “focused” assault and they’re “exhausting each lead.”
“We is not going to stand for what occurred yesterday,” Mason stated. “We’re investing the whole lot we have now into this and we are going to catch this particular person.”
UVU will probably be closed till Sept. 14, in accordance with a discover posted on the college’s web site.
Flowers sit subsequent to the Utah Valley College check in a makeshift memorial for political activist Charlie Kirk, September 11, 2025 in Orem, Utah.
Michael Ciaglo/Getty Pictures
Because the seek for the suspect continued, President Donald Trump and distinguished MAGA personalities sought to tie the killing to Democratic political rhetoric.
On Thursday, Trump announced he’ll posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying he was a “big of his era.”
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Trump stated, “It is a long gone time for all Individuals and the media to confront the truth that violence and homicide are the tragic consequence of demonizing these with whom you disagree.”
“For years, these on the novel Left have in contrast great Individuals like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he added. “This sort of rhetoric is immediately answerable for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our nation at present, and it should cease proper now.”
Trump’s son Eric, in the meantime, informed Fox Information’ Sean Hannity he was “sick and uninterested in seeing the bullets — they’re solely going a method.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox received emotional Wednesday as he delivered a message mentioning latest assaults on each Democrats and Republicans.
“Our nation is damaged,” Cox stated. “We have had political assassinations lately in Minnesota. We had an tried assassination on the governor of Pennsylvania. And we had an tried assassination on a presidential candidate and former president of america — and now present president of america. Nothing I say can unite us as a rustic. Nothing I can say proper now can repair what’s damaged. Nothing I can say can carry again Charlie Kirk. Our hearts are damaged.”
Controversial campus go to
Kirk — a 31-year-old father of two — was thought-about a confidant of Trump and extremely influential within the conservative youth motion.
He based the conservative advocacy group Turning Level USA in 2012 on the age of 18, and within the 2024 elections was credited with constructing vital assist for Trump amongst younger voters.
He was hit by a single shot throughout the open air occasion on the college’s Orem campus shortly after midday. Kirk was taken to hospital however was later pronounced lifeless.
A drone view reveals the scene the place U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College, in Orem, Utah, September 11, 2025.
Cheney Orr/Reuters
The Utah occasion was anticipated to incorporate a “show me mistaken” desk, in accordance with the tour’s web site.
Forward of Kirk’s go to to Utah Valley College, some college students began a web based petition asking college directors to cease him from coming.
Although Kirk’s go to was controversial on campus, police had been monitoring no particular or credible threats earlier than the deadly taking pictures, Utah regulation enforcement sources informed ABC Information.
Greater than 3,000 folks had been estimated to be on the occasion, in accordance with the college’s police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six cops, together with Kirk’s non-public safety, in accordance with Lengthy.
Ongoing manhunt
Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason referred to as the taking pictures a “focused assault,” and stated the scene is a “very giant space.”
Mason stated the “solely data” they’ve on the doable shooter was taken from CCTV on campus, and that the individual was wearing all darkish clothes. The shot was fired on campus from a “longer distance,” probably from a roof, he stated.
There is no such thing as a proof that anybody else was concerned, in accordance with authorities.
Authorities are combing by way of video from the scene, together with video which seems to present an individual on the roof instantly following the taking pictures, in accordance with sources accustomed to the continued investigation.
Throughout a press convention Wednesday, authorities stated the shot got here “probably from a roof, sure. An extended distance shot from a roof.”
Individually, authorities stated they’re additionally taking a look at safety digital camera video depicting somebody wearing all darkish clothes and that “the shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a constructing right down to the placement of the general public occasion within the pupil courtyard,” in accordance with a press release from regulation enforcement officers final evening.
The FBI has established a digital media tip line for the general public to supply any tricks to investigators, together with photographs or video of the incident.
Bohls stated Wednesday the investigation was in its early levels.
“We’re following all of the leads and all of the proof,” he stated throughout the press briefing on Wednesday.
On this Dec. 22, 2024, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk speaks on stage at America Fest 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Josh Edelson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The Utah Division of Public of Security stated in an replace Wednesday evening that two folks had been initially taken into custody after the taking pictures however later launched.
The primary was launched and later charged with obstruction by college police. The second individual was taken into custody and launched after an “interrogation” by regulation enforcement, the division stated.
Utah authorities stated “there are not any present ties to the taking pictures with both of those people.”
Tributes from each events
Trump was amongst those that paid tribute to Kirk.
“The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is lifeless,” Trump stated on social media. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in america of America higher than Charlie. He was beloved and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s not with us. Melania and my Sympathies exit to his lovely spouse Erika, and household. Charlie, we love you!”
“It is horrific. It is one of the horrible issues I’ve ever seen,” Trump informed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
“He was a fantastic man,” Trump stated. “He was man. He was an unbelievable man. No one like him.”
Trump ordered all American flags all through the nation to be lowered to half-staff by way of Sunday night in Kirk’s honor.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to as the deadly taking pictures a “political assassination.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, speaks with Utah Valley College Chief of Police Jeff Lengthy, proper, on the Keller Constructing on the Utah Valley College campus after Charlie Kirk was shot and died throughout Turning Level’s go to to the college, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.
Hannah Schoenbaum/AP
Vice President JD Vance referred to as Kirk “a genuinely good man and a younger father” whereas urging prayers within the aftermath of the taking pictures.
Cox stated earlier he was being briefed “following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk” throughout the conservative political activist’s go to to the campus.
“These accountable will probably be held absolutely accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Individuals of each political persuasion should unite in condemning this act,” he stated on X.
Condemnation got here from each side of the political spectrum.
“There is no such thing as a place in our nation for this type of violence. It should finish now,” Former President Joe Biden stated. “Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s household and family members.”
“The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising sort of unconscionable violence can’t be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated on X.
Fellow Democratic governor, California’s Gavin Newsom, stated on X that the “assault on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In america of America, we should reject political violence in EVERY kind.”
ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky, Ivan Pereira, Lalee Ibssa, Isabella Murray, Katherine Faulders, Jack Date, Chris Looft and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.
