Rifle found but Charlie Kirk’s killer still on the run

International

NO one has yet been identified as the shooter who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, though investigators say they have recovered a rifle and other evidence near the campus.

Kirk, 31, was addressing about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem on 10 September as part of his “American Comeback” tour. The event, held outdoors in the campus quad, turned chaotic when a single gunshot rang out around 12:20 p.m.

Witnesses said Kirk collapsed instantly, and the crowd dropped for cover before fleeing. Authorities believe the shot was fired from the roof of the Losee Center, a building overlooking the courtyard. It has not been confirmed whether members of Kirk’s family were present.

The FBI has released photos of a “person of interest” and appealed for public help in identifying him.

A Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle, believed to be the weapon used, was found wrapped in a towel in nearby woods. Investigators also collected a footwear impression, palm print and forearm marks.

In a BBC report, Special Agent Robert Bohls described the gun as “high-powered.” Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the suspect appeared to be “college age” and blended in with students before escaping.

Video reviewed by law enforcement shows a figure fleeing across a rooftop, a detail supported by footage circulating publicly.

Kirk was best known as the founder of Turning Point USA, which he launched in 2012 to promote conservative values on U.S. campuses. His combative speaking style and open-air debates earned him both a loyal following and strong criticism.

A close ally of Donald Trump, Kirk was a regular visitor to the White House and credited with mobilizing young conservative voters. Opponents accused him of promoting divisive rhetoric and misinformation, including false claims about the 2020 election.

His killing drew swift national reaction. Trump called Kirk “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk,” and ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide. Joe Biden condemned the shooting, saying there was “no place in our country for this kind of violence,” while Barack Obama labeled it a “despicable act.”

The death has also sharpened partisan tensions. Trump and allies such as Laura Loomer and Elon Musk blamed “radical left political violence,” while some conservative commentators highlighted inflammatory online remarks by activists on the left.

On Capitol Hill, a moment of silence for Kirk devolved into shouting between Republicans and Democrats. Critics warned that such responses risk inflaming divisions at a time when political violence has already surged.

The United States has seen nearly 150 politically motivated attacks in the first half of 2025, almost double the number from the same period last year, according to University of Maryland researcher Mike Jensen. He described the country as being in “a very, very dangerous spot” and warned that Kirk’s killing could serve as a flashpoint.

The shooting adds to a list of recent high-profile incidents, including assassination attempts against Trump during his 2024 campaign, the killing of Minnesota’s top Democratic legislator and her husband in June, and the 2022 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of then–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a 2011 shooting, said the attack under the need to reject violence as a tool of political disagreement.(MyTVCebu)