Authorities have confirmed that they have recovered what they described as a powerful, high-caliber bolt‑action rifle, which they believe was the weapon used in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. This discovery was made amid an intense manhunt for the assailant that has now extended into a second consecutive day, underscoring both the seriousness of the investigation and the urgency with which law enforcement agencies are working to locate the suspect.
During a press conference held on Thursday morning, Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Beau Mason explained that although officers possess video footage that clearly depicts the alleged shooter, the material will not be made public at this stage of the inquiry. He emphasized that the footage is of high quality and provides investigators with a valuable resource to track the suspect’s movements. Mason elaborated that law enforcement was able to trace the individual’s presence beginning at 11:52 a.m., when the suspect was first seen blending into the crowd gathered at Utah Valley University to hear Kirk deliver a speech. By approximately 12:20 p.m., mere moments after a single gunshot rang out, the suspect could be seen fleeing the scene. In the aftermath, officers located the suspected weapon discarded in a nearby wooded area, suggesting a deliberate effort to conceal or abandon evidence while escaping.
Investigators are also engaging with local residents in neighborhoods adjacent to the campus, reaching out door to door in hopes of discovering witnesses or obtaining recordings from private security systems and doorbell cameras that might have inadvertently captured the suspect’s escape. Both Commissioner Mason and Robert Bohls, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, have been cautious in their public statements, deliberately withholding further identifying details about the shooter. Mason characterized the suspect as appearing to be college-aged and capable of blending seamlessly with the student population and university crowd, which posed additional challenges for security personnel attempting to track and isolate potential threats.
Tragically, Charlie Kirk, who had been shot in the neck, was rushed to a nearby hospital in an attempt to save his life. Despite medical interventions, he succumbed to his injuries later that same day, on Wednesday afternoon. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from political leaders, business figures, and former President Donald Trump, many of whom praised Kirk’s influential role in galvanizing youth support for the conservative movement across the nation.
In the early stages of the investigation, two individuals had been taken into custody for questioning. However, they were subsequently released after authorities determined that they had no involvement whatsoever in the crime. Mason implored the public to refrain from harassing or targeting these individuals, reiterating their innocence and emphasizing that law enforcement does not want their lives disrupted by unwarranted suspicion. Bohls similarly appealed for patience and public cooperation, asserting that this investigation would be pursued with the utmost diligence. He reminded the public that an attack on an individual exercising the right to free speech constitutes, in essence, an attack on the First Amendment itself, striking at the very heart of American democracy. This, Bohls stressed, is precisely why federal and state authorities are determined to pursue the shooter relentlessly until justice is served.
As a direct response to the ongoing security concerns and the gravity of the situation, Utah Valley University officials announced that the campus would remain closed through Sunday. Meanwhile, Mason shared that he personally spoke with Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, assuring her that every possible step is being taken to ensure her husband’s remains are promptly returned to his family following examination by the state medical examiner. These logistical efforts run parallel to the larger mission of the investigation: bringing closure to the grieving Kirk family while also restoring a sense of safety to a shaken university community and the broader public.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-updates-rifle-recovered-2025-9
