Manhunt for Charlie Kirk shooter continues; rifle found, FBI says

The morning after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Department of Public Safety and FBI officials said the manhunt for his killer continues while investigators recovered what they believe to be the killer’s weapon. 

“It’s a high-powered, bolt-action rifle,” FBI Special Agent In Charge Robert Bohls said in an early morning news conference held at UVU. “That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. The FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon.” 

Investigators are also analyzing “footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis,” he said. 

Bohls and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said their investigation is ongoing, and they declined to release more detailed information about the suspected shooter — other than saying the person “appears to be of college age” and overnight investigators tracked his movement through video camera footage. 

“We are confident in our abilities to track that individual,” Mason said. “If we are unsuccessful in identifying them immediately, we will reach out for the public’s help and the media’s help in pushing those photos.”

Less than three hours later, shortly before 10 a.m., Salt Lake City-based FBI officials posted on X asking the public’s help to identify a “person of interest in connection with” Kirk’s shooting, along with two photos of what appeared to be a man wearing a black, long-sleeved shirt with an American flag graphic, blue jeans, sunglasses and a ball cap.

Starting at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, the shooter was spotted heading toward UVU’s campus. Mason said he “blended in well with the college institute,” appearing to be college aged.

“We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof to a shooting location,” Mason said. “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.” 

Investigators have contacted neighbors, “anybody they can with doorbell cameras, witnesses and have thoroughly worked through those communities trying to identify any leads,” Mason said. 

“We do have good video footage of this individual,” he said, but “we’re not going to release that at this time. We are working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual.” 

If they’re unable to identify the suspect, then Mason said they’ll provide more information to the media to ask the public for help, “but we are confident in our abilities right now and would like to move forward in a manner that keeps everyone safe and moves this process appropriately.” 

Bohls said FBI agents have been working “around the clock” in partnership with Utah law enforcement to find Kirk’s killer. 

“We are and will continue to work nonstop until we find the person that has committed this heinous crime and find out why they did it,” Bohls said.

J.D. Vance traveling to Utah

Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha are expected to travel to Utah to visit with Kirk’s family, multiple national outlets reported early Thursday. 

Originally scheduled to visit Ground Zero in New York City for a ceremony to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Vances changed plans after Kirk’s killing, Politico reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with the vice president’s plans. He’s not expected to hold any public events, according to the outlet. 

Vance, in a lengthy post on X late Wednesday, eulogized Kirk as a “true friend.” 

“I am on more than a few group chats with Charlie and people he introduced me to over the years. We celebrate weddings and babies, bust each other’s chops, and mourn the loss of loved ones,” Vance said. “We talk about politics and policy and sports and life. These group chats include people at the very highest level of our government. They trusted him, loved him, and knew he’d always have their backs. And because he was a true friend, you could instinctively trust the people Charlie introduced you to. So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene. He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”