Authorities have recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, as investigators continue their search for the suspect.
The weapon, described as an older-model .30 caliber bolt-action rifle, was found in a wooded area near the campus where the shooter fled following the attack.
Investigators reported that the rifle still contained a spent cartridge in its chamber, along with three unspent rounds in the magazine.
Each round reportedly featured engraved messages referencing “trans” and anti-fascist ideology.
Justice Department officials emphasized that the probe remains in its early stages, and further examination of the ammunition is ongoing to uncover additional evidence and potential leads, according to the Wall Street Journal.
An internal email obtained by Steven Crowder outlined the coordinated response between the ATF, FBI and other law enforcement agencies to locate the suspect.
Multiple persons of interest have already been contacted, and officials are carefully reviewing surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts.
The FBI and Utah State Bureau of Investigation are jointly leading the inquiry, though authorities stressed that the primary suspect has not yet been identified.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason provided additional insight during a Thursday press conference, detailing the movements of the individual before and after the shooting.
Authorities tracked the suspect from 11:52 a.m., as they entered the campus, moved through stairwells and traversed the roof to reach the location of the attack.
After firing, the suspect fled across the roof, jumped from the building and disappeared into a nearby neighborhood.
Officers are currently gathering video footage from doorbell cameras and security systems in the surrounding area, The Post Millennial reports.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls confirmed that investigators collected further evidence at the scene, including a footwear impression, a palm print and forearm imprints.
Bohls also described the suspect as appearing college-aged and blending in with the campus environment. Officials noted they are unsure how far the shooter may have traveled since fleeing.
Over 130 tips have been submitted as the investigation continues.
Video footage shows Kirk, 31, engaging onstage with a student about mass shootings involving trans-identifying individuals at the moment he was assassinated.
The student has not been publicly identified.
Officials have not released images of the suspect, but they indicated that public assistance may be sought if identification proves difficult.
Authorities emphasized that the attack appears to have been specifically targeted, with no evidence suggesting an ongoing threat to the wider community.
Investigators are continuing to examine all recovered evidence, including the inscriptions on the ammunition, which may shed light on the ideological motivations behind the shooting.
The rifle’s location in the wooded area, near the path the suspect reportedly took after the attack, has been a key focus for authorities attempting to reconstruct the events.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative political influencer, was delivering remarks as part of his American Comeback Tour when the attack occurred.
His assassination has sparked nationwide grief and condemnation across the political spectrum.
Authorities continue to coordinate efforts across multiple federal and state agencies to ensure the responsible party is brought to justice.
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