University of Kwazulu-Natal

Fbi Recovers Weapon In Charlie Kirk Murder Investigation

Bonisiwe Shabane
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fbi recovers weapon in charlie kirk murder investigation

OREM, UT — Behind Utah Valley University's Losee building, FBI forensics agents were still gathering evidence Sept. 11 in the wooded area where the bureau said agents recovered the "high-powered" rifle a shooter used to kill political influencer Charlie Kirk. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times, citing law-enforcement sources, reported it was an older model Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle. An ATF spokesperson declined to comment to USA TODAY, citing the active investigation. Evidence markers on a small hill behind the building appeared to mark the trail the shooter took, scrambling through some trees towards a nearby construction site. Charlie Kirk shooting live updates: New person of interest sought by FBI, rifle found

At the site, Dylan Hope, an electrician, told USA TODAY that his colleague, who was operating an excavator Wednesday, Sept. 10, when the shooting took place, believes he spoke with the gunman. Hope said his colleague spoke with a young man who appeared on the site and asked if he could walk through it. Authorities investigating the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk recovered a weapon that could prove key to solving the case. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls confirmed that investigators found a “high-powered bolt-action rifle” hidden in a wooded area near where Kirk was killed. Officials said the FBI sent the firearm to a laboratory for detailed analysis.

The discovery comes after days of intense searching by federal and local investigators. Bohls told reporters that detectives also uncovered footwear impressions and a palm print in the vicinity of the crime scene, which could provide crucial leads. The public flooded the FBI with information, submitting more than 130 tips since Kirk’s death shocked the community. “Every piece of information helps us build a clearer picture of what happened,” Bohls said. He stressed that investigators carefully review each lead, no matter how small, to ensure they don’t miss anything. Residents in the area expressed both relief and lingering anxiety following news of the weapon’s recovery.

Some praised the FBI for their thorough approach, while others worried that the suspect could still be at large. Social media lit up with community members sharing updates, theories, and concerns about safety, revealing just how deeply Kirk’s death has affected the public. Experts note that the rifle’s recovery could significantly advance the investigation. Forensic analysis can link weapons to their owners through ballistics, serial numbers, and other trace evidence. Meanwhile, the footwear impressions and palm print may help pinpoint the suspect’s movements and potentially place them at the scene of the murder. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday said they have recovered the weapon used to assassinate conservative, right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk.Meanwhile, Utah law enforcement officials investigating the case said they have...

Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, told reporters that the weapon is a “high-powered, bolt action rifle" recovered from the “wooded area where the shooter had... Earlier, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, who first spoke to the reporters at the press conference, said that the investigation has made “a few breakthroughs", including being able to track the... “We do have good video footage of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time," Mason said, adding the suspect arrived on the campus of Utah Valley University at 11:52 am (local time). He further added that the suspect “blended in well in the university setting and appears to be of college age". The FBI official said that investigators believe the suspect is male, according to the US broadcaster CNN.

Holly Bishop | Thursday 11 September 2025 19:12 BST The FBI has announced that it has recovered the weapon used to kill conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, as a manhunt for the killer remains ongoing 24 hours later. The 31-year-old Trump ally was fatally shot in the neck at a university rally in Utah on Wednesday (10 September). The FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, Robert Bohls, said on Thursday (11 September) that a “high-powered bolt action rifle” was found in a wooded area where the suspect had fled. He said that the FBI has also collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis. (The Center Square) – The weapon believed to have been used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been recovered; however, a manhunt remains ongoing for the suspected shooter.

Authorities held a briefing Thursday morning indicating that investigators recovered a “high-powered bolt action rifle” in a wooded area near the shooting site. Investigators say the “suspect blended in well with a college institution,” believing the suspect to be college aged. They say they have “images of the suspect.” Investigators also said they made progress overnight in tracking the movements of the suspect before and after the shooting. “We were able to track the movements of the shooter; starting at 11:52 a.m. the subject arrived on campus, shortly away from campus.

We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells up to the roof, across the roof to a shooting location. 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... The suspected rifle used in the shooting is being sent to an FBI laboratory for analysis. In addition to the recovered weapon, investigators say they collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints; however, they didn’t indicate where they were collected.

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OREM, UT — Behind Utah Valley University's Losee Building, FBI

OREM, UT — Behind Utah Valley University's Losee building, FBI forensics agents were still gathering evidence Sept. 11 in the wooded area where the bureau said agents recovered the "high-powered" rifle a shooter used to kill political influencer Charlie Kirk. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times, citing law-enforcement sources, reported it was an older model Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action...

At The Site, Dylan Hope, An Electrician, Told USA TODAY

At the site, Dylan Hope, an electrician, told USA TODAY that his colleague, who was operating an excavator Wednesday, Sept. 10, when the shooting took place, believes he spoke with the gunman. Hope said his colleague spoke with a young man who appeared on the site and asked if he could walk through it. Authorities investigating the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk recovered a weapon that could prov...

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The discovery comes after days of intense searching by federal and local investigators. Bohls told reporters that detectives also uncovered footwear impressions and a palm print in the vicinity of the crime scene, which could provide crucial leads. The public flooded the FBI with information, submitting more than 130 tips since Kirk’s death shocked the community. “Every piece of information helps ...

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Some praised the FBI for their thorough approach, while others worried that the suspect could still be at large. Social media lit up with community members sharing updates, theories, and concerns about safety, revealing just how deeply Kirk’s death has affected the public. Experts note that the rifle’s recovery could significantly advance the investigation. Forensic analysis can link weapons to th...

Robert Bohls, Special Agent In Charge Of The FBI’s Salt

Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, told reporters that the weapon is a “high-powered, bolt action rifle" recovered from the “wooded area where the shooter had... Earlier, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, who first spoke to the reporters at the press conference, said that the investigation has made “a few breakthroughs", includin...