Authorities recover suspected weapon used in Charlie Kirk shooting; seek public’s help to identify suspect
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- A sign reading “Fly High Charlie Kirk! We love you. R.I.P.” is seen hanging on a fence with flowers across the street from the Utah Valley University campus, in Orem, Utah, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)
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- The FBI released this surveillance photo of a “person of interest” and said “We are seeking the public’s help in identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. 1-800-CALL-FBI”
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- The FBI released this surveillance photo of a “person of interest” and said “We are seeking the public’s help in identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. 1-800-CALL-FBI”
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- A well-wisher places flowers at a makeshift memorial set up at Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college on Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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- Law enforcement search a wooded area outside campus a day after the shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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- The casket containing the body of Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA who was shot and killed is removed from Air Force Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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- A community member arranges a candle at a growing vigil outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Authorities have recovered a weapon they believed was used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, but as of Thursday evening, a suspect was not in custody.
Kirk was speaking to a crowd at UVU under a tent when he was shot in the neck. He was taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital where he later died.
At a press briefing Thursday morning, FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent Robert Bohls said the weapon used is a high-powered bolt action rifle.
“That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled,” he said. “So the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis.”
Law enforcement debunked rumors detailing information about the weapon; specifically about the ammunition, including inscriptions and symbols it allegedly contained.
“At this time, we are not able to provide further details on the content of those inscriptions,” a media release issued Thursday afternoon said. “Additionally, we are not able to confirm individual photos’ authenticity, as those photos were not released by law enforcement. We are not confirming further details at this time.”
Commissioner Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety said while they don’t currently have a suspect in custody, they have an idea who may be responsible for the act.
Mason didn’t elaborate much on the potential suspect other than it appears to be a male who “blended in well with a college institution.”
“The individual appears to be of college age,” he said. “We are confident in our abilities to track that individual.”
Later on Thursday morning, the FBI posted on social media requesting the public’s help in identifying a “person of interest.” A $100,000 reward is also being offered to those with information that leads his identity and arrest.
Authorities said the photos are screenshots pulled from campus security footage just prior to Wednesday’s shooting.
We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
1-800-CALL-FBI
Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc
— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025
Authorities said on Wednesday they had apprehended two suspects who they believed were connected to the shooting, but both were released after interrogation with law enforcement.
Mason said they’ve also been able to track the individual Wednesday morning before and after the shooting.
Mason said from the information they’ve gathered, the person arrived on the UVU campus at around 11:52 a.m. Wednesday morning. It’s believed the individual entered the campus, went up a stairwell and accessed a roof across from where the event was taking place.
“After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood,” Mason said.
Authorities suspect the shooting was a targeted attack and they don’t believe there is any danger to the public.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance traveled to Utah to escort Kirk’s body back to his home in Arizona.
According to KSL.com, the Vice President and Second Lady landed on Air Force Two at the Utah National Guard’s Roland R. Wright Air Base in Salt Lake City, just before 2:30 Thursday afternoon. After a brief meeting with Kirk’s family, the couple departed with Kirk’s casket on board around 4:30 p.m.
A vigil to honor Kirk took place at Orem’s City Center Park on Thursday evening. More details from the event will be available in Saturday’s Daily Herald.
A tip line created to gather information and images from the public had received more than 200 tips so far, according to Mason.
They are asking for the community’s continued help to successfully identify and locate the individual.
Tips can be submitted at fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting – or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The investigation and manhunt remains ongoing as of Thursday evening.
