Web Desk; U.S. authorities announced on Thursday that investigators had recovered the high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, though the gunman remains at large.
Kirk, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed on Wednesday while addressing thousands of students at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Officials described the incident as a “political assassination,” sparking a large-scale manhunt for the sniper who fired from a rooftop on the campus, about 64 kilometers south of Salt Lake City.
Video footage circulating online showed the 31-year-old activist speaking to the crowd shortly after noon, answering a question about gun violence, when a single bullet struck him in the neck. Panic erupted as audience members screamed and ran for cover.
Utah’s Department of Public Safety confirmed that the shooter escaped by jumping from the rooftop and fleeing into a nearby neighborhood. A rifle wrapped in a towel, along with spent and live rounds engraved with ideological slogans, was later discovered in a wooded area.
Investigators are analyzing the weapon, palm prints, and footprints for leads. Authorities believe the shooter is of college age and was able to blend in with the student crowd before the attack.
Despite detaining two men for questioning, police said both were released after investigators found no link to the shooting. The search for the perpetrator continues, with officials declining to release video footage of the suspect for now.
President Trump, visibly emotional, announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Speaking from the Pentagon during a 9/11 commemoration, Trump vowed to bring the killer to justice. “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence,” he declared in a video message later posted online.
Vice President JD Vance canceled his scheduled trip to New York for the 9/11 anniversary and instead traveled to Utah to console Kirk’s family. In a social media tribute, Vance credited Kirk with shaping the conservative movement and helping secure Trump’s reelection in 2024.
The assassination has reignited concerns about escalating political violence in the United States. Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the killing as a deliberate political act, calling it a dark day for both the state and the nation.
Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was a central figure in mobilizing young conservative voters. His appearances on college campuses often drew thousands, and he wielded significant influence through his 5.3 million followers on social media and his popular radio show.
The killing comes against the backdrop of a sharp increase in politically motivated attacks in recent years, including multiple attempts on President Trump’s life. Analysts warn the country is facing its most volatile period of political violence since the 1970s, with incidents targeting both Republican and Democratic leaders.
