The FBI recovered a bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
And agents are investigating whether there are any usable fingerprints on it, whether footprints found near the weapon are significant and much, much more.
The assassin remained at large Thursday, after two individuals were taken into custody, questioned, and then released on Wednesday in the hours after the shooting.
BREAKING: The FBI has recovered a “high powered BOLT ACTION RIFLE” in a wooded area where the assassin fled after kiIIing Charlie Kirk
The suspect is believed to be “college-aged”
“Investigators have collected footwear impression, a palmprint and forearm imprints for… pic.twitter.com/zodDSiY1xS
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 11, 2025
BREAKING: FBI just corroborated multiple details included in this memo:
– Weapon was a high powered bolt action rifle.
– Weapon was found in a wooded area.
– FBI is conducting a forensic investigation on the weapon. https://t.co/ProSs4JTLC pic.twitter.com/pL7haPnhgp— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) September 11, 2025
A report in the Washington Examiner explained authorities confirmed at a news conference that the murder weapon was recovered in a wooded area near the shooting scene, a region that now has been swept and secured.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason also confirmed authorities have a “good video” of the shooter.
“The suspect was described as being of college age, and arrived on campus about a half hour before the murder. The assassin jumped off the roof after the shooting and fled into a nearby neighborhood,” the report said.
The suspect, immediately after the shooting, was described to police as wearing jeans, a black shirt, a black mask, and a black vest, and carrying a “long rifle.”
The shooter is thought to have shot Kirk from atop the Sorensen Student Center on the campus of Utah Valley University.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI.
An analyst said in the Washington Examiner report that police likely were using cell phone data, cameras, license plate readers and such.
The weapon is expected to provide some details, such as when and where it was purchased, where the ammunition was purchased and such.
The report noted, “The UVU campus will be closed for the rest of the week, and classes have been canceled for several days. Several Utah universities increased their security and/or police presence on their campuses, including the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Southern Utah University.”
The individuals detained and released, the report said, were identified as George Zinn and Zachariah Qureshi.
Both were after being questioned.
Radio traffic from Utah County Public Safety earlier in the day had a dispatcher saying: “Description on the male: All in black, long pants, black bag, aviator-style sunglasses with a long gun.”
Radio traffic from Utah County Public Safety dispatch channel describes the suspect in the Kirk incident as:
“All in back, black bag, sunglasses with a long gun.” pic.twitter.com/rxqdJPrZQt
— Sarah Luna (@sarah_luna_1111) September 10, 2025
It is believed the shooter fired a weapon from a long distance, striking the founder of Turning Point USA who was speaking while seated under a tent.
BREAKING: Multiple videos have surfaced showing what appears to be an individual running and ducking on the roof of a University building moments after Charlie Kirk was shot
Officials said Charlie was shot from around 200 yards.
The shooter is still at large, and it’s… pic.twitter.com/c7dvGg2v6b
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 10, 2025
JUST IN: Republican governor Spencer Cox of Utah says the killing of Charlie Kirk was a political assassination, reminds viewers that Utah has the death penalty.
“I just want to remind you, we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”pic.twitter.com/9GGFgcxT6s
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 10, 2025
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