Details Emerge on Rifle and Ammunition Used in High-Profile Killing of Conservative Leader
Conservative political activist and author Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Wednesday during a live event at Utah Valley University, in what Utah Governor Spencer Cox has called a “political assassination.”
The shooting, which occurred while Kirk was on stage, has sent shockwaves across the nation, drawing widespread condemnation from politicians on both sides of the aisle.
According to videos of the attack and witness accounts, Kirk was engaged in a “Prove Me Wrong” debate, a signature event for his organization Turning Point USA, when a student began questioning him about mass shootings involving transgender people.
A single shot was fired, striking Kirk. He was rushed to a local hospital but was later pronounced dead. The event, part of Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour,” drew a crowd of approximately 3,000 people.
Sources close to the investigation, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, revealed that ammunition found inside the rifle used in the killing was engraved with messaging described as “pro-transgender and anti-fascist.”
According to the WSJ, the older-model .30 caliber hunting rifle was discovered in the woods near the scene of Wednesday’s shooting, wrapped in a towel with a spent cartridge still in the chamber. There were also three unspent rounds in the magazine, all with wording on them, sources said. Justice Department officials cautioned that the investigation was still in its preliminary stages and that investigators were still examining the ammunition.
The manhunt for the shooter is ongoing. Authorities, including the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety, have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack. While two individuals were arrested and briefly detained in the immediate aftermath, both were later released after being determined to have no connection to the shooting. Investigators said they have “good video footage” of the suspect, who they believe is “college-age” and “blended in” with the crowd before and after the shooting.
READ: FBI Recovers Rifle, Has Images Of Charlie Kirk’s Assassin Described As “College Age”
Kirk, the founder and CEO of the powerful conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was one of the most influential figures on the right. His organization is active on more than 3,500 college campuses and was credited with playing a prominent role in President Donald Trump’s outreach to young voters. Kirk was also a popular podcaster and a frequent guest on cable news.
Following the incident, President Trump announced Kirk’s death on social media and ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff. He praised Kirk as a “great and even legendary” figure and later called him a “martyr for truth and freedom.” Democratic leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, also condemned the act, with Newsom calling it “disgusting, vile and reprehensible.”
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