In a major development in the investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk, federal investigators have recovered a .30 caliber bolt-action rifle believed to be the murder weapon. The rifle, found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near Utah Valley University, contained one spent cartridge and three live rounds in its magazine. According to an internal Department of Justice (DOJ) bulletin cited by sources, the ammunition was engraved with wording expressing transgender and antifascist ideology, a detail that may provide crucial insight into the motive behind the attack.
The FBI is now meticulously analyzing the rifle and ammunition for DNA, fingerprints, and other forensic evidence. This discovery is a significant breakthrough in the manhunt, which has now entered its second day with the shooter still at large. The recovery of the weapon and the unique engravings on the ammunition are expected to be key to identifying and apprehending the suspect.
The incident occurred as Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event, and the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) has classified it as a “targeted attack.” Authorities have stated that the shooter, who is believed to be “college-aged,” fired a long-distance shot from a rooftop on campus. They have also recovered a footprint, a palm print, and forearm imprints from the scene, all of which are being analyzed to help identify the individual. The FBI has opened a tip line and is urging anyone with information to come forward.
The assassination has sent shockwaves across the nation, and the new details about the ammunition’s engravings are likely to intensify the national debate about political violence and the role of extremist ideologies in American society. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has publicly called the killing a “political assassination,” and leaders from both sides of the aisle have condemned the act. The recovery of the murder weapon and the new forensic evidence provide a glimmer of hope that a resolution is on the horizon, but the community remains on edge as the search for the killer continues.
The FBI has said the case is being treated as an attack on free speech, underscoring the seriousness of the crime. Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls stated, “Any attack on the First Amendment is an attack on the very foundation of our democracy.” As the investigation unfolds, the public is awaiting further updates on the motive and the identity of the shooter, as the nation grapples with the fallout of this tragic event.
