The FBI mentioned 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 capturing, was recovered in a wooded space close to the place the capturing befell, in keeping 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 mentioned throughout a press convention on Thursday.
The FBI requested for ideas from the general public because the manhunt for the perpetrator continued, urging anybody with info, pictures and video from the incident to share it with investigators.
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned earlier the company “stands in full help of the continued response and investigation.”
This display screen 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 through AFP through Getty Photographs
UVU can be closed till Sept. 14, in keeping with a discover posted on the college’s web site.
Because the seek for the suspect continued, President Donald Trump and outstanding MAGA personalities sought to tie the killing to Democratic political rhetoric.
In a video posted to social media, Trump mentioned, “It is a long gone time for all People 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 unconventional Left have in contrast great People like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he added. “This type of rhetoric is instantly liable for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our nation right now, and it should cease proper now.”
Trump’s son Eric, in the meantime, instructed Fox Information’ Sean Hannity he was “sick and bored with seeing the bullets — they’re solely going a method.”
Controversial campus go to
Kirk — a 31-year-old father of two — was thought of 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 help for Trump amongst younger voters.
He was hit by a single shot in the course of the outside occasion on the college’s Orem campus shortly after midday. Kirk was taken to hospital however was later pronounced lifeless.
The Utah occasion was anticipated to incorporate a “show me unsuitable” desk, in keeping with the tour’s web site.
Forward of Kirk’s go to to Utah Valley College, some college students began an internet petition asking college directors to cease him from coming.
Although Kirk’s go to was controversial on campus, police have been monitoring no particular or credible threats earlier than the deadly capturing, Utah regulation enforcement sources instructed ABC Information.
Greater than 3,000 individuals have been estimated to be on the occasion, in keeping with the college’s police chief, Jeff Lengthy. There have been six law enforcement officials, together with Kirk’s personal safety, in keeping with Lengthy.
Ongoing manhunt
Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason referred to as the capturing a “focused assault,” and mentioned the scene is a “very massive space.”
Mason mentioned the “solely info” they’ve on the attainable shooter was taken from CCTV on campus, and that the particular person was wearing all darkish clothes. The shot was fired on campus from a “longer distance,” doubtlessly from a roof, he mentioned.
There is no such thing as a proof that anybody else was concerned, in keeping with authorities.
Authorities are combing by means of video from the scene, together with this video which seems to present an individual on the roof instantly following the capturing, in keeping with sources conversant in the continued investigation.
Throughout a press convention yesterday, authorities mentioned the shot got here “doubtlessly from a roof, sure. An extended distance shot from a roof.”
Individually, authorities mentioned 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 all the way down to the situation of the general public occasion within the scholar courtyard,” in keeping with an announcement 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 pictures or video of the incident.
Salt Lake Metropolis FBI Particular Agent in Cost Robert Bohls mentioned the investigation is within the early levels.
On this Dec. 22, 2024, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk speaks on stage at America Fest 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Josh Edelson/AFP through Getty Photographs
“We’re following all of the leads and all of the proof,” he mentioned in the course of the press briefing on Wednesday.
The Utah Division of Public of Security mentioned in an replace Wednesday evening that two individuals have been initially taken into custody after the capturing however later launched.
The primary was launched and later charged with obstruction by college police. The second particular person was taken into custody and launched after an “interrogation” by regulation enforcement, the division mentioned.
Utah authorities mentioned “there aren’t any present ties to the capturing 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 mentioned on social media. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the USA of America higher than Charlie. He was liked and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s not with us. Melania and my Sympathies exit to his stunning spouse Erika, and household. Charlie, we love you!”
“It is horrific. It is one of the vital horrible issues I’ve ever seen,” Trump instructed ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
“He was a terrific man,” Trump mentioned. “He was an excellent man. He was an unimaginable man. No person like him.”
Trump ordered all American flags all through the nation to be lowered to half-staff by means of Sunday night in Kirk’s honor.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to as the deadly capturing 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 capturing.
Cox mentioned earlier he was being briefed “following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk” in the course of the conservative political activist’s go to to the campus.
“These accountable can be held totally accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. People of each political persuasion should unite in condemning this act,” he mentioned 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 sort of violence. It should finish now,” Former President Joe Biden mentioned. “Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s household and family members.”
“The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising kind of unconscionable violence can’t be allowed in our society,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, mentioned on X.
Fellow Democratic governor, California’s Gavin Newsom, mentioned on X that the “assault on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the USA 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.
