The FBI said it found a high-powered rifle in the woods after Charlie Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University – but admitted they still have not identified the gunman.
The manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s assassin entered its second day Thursday after the conservative firebrand was gunned down at a rally at Utah Valley University.
The FBI and local police asked the public for help as they hunt the shooter who opened fire on the 31-year-old influencer as he addressed a packed hall of students.
A bullet struck Kirk in the neck, sending the crowd into panic. Despite frantic efforts from staff and security to save him, he died at the scene.
Two men were briefly taken into custody after the shooting, but investigators later confirmed they were not suspects and released them.
Follow the Daily Mail for all the latest updates after the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Breaking:FBI says weapon recovered in Kirk murder probe
FBI special agent in charge Robert Bohls said a ‘high-powered bolt action rifle’ was recovered in a wooded area after Charlie Kirk’s murder.
The weapon has been sent to an FBI lab for further analysis.
Bols said detectives also found footwear impressions and a palm print in the area of the killing.
The agent added the FBI has received more than 130 tips.
Charlie Kirk shooting: Everything you need to know as manhunt underway for kill3r
A manhunt is underway across America today after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead as he gave a speech at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old was killed at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA, the youth organization he co-founded in 2012, in what has been described as a ‘political assassination’.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon when authorities said the shooter fired from a roof
- Videos posted to social media show Kirk, seen speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent, reach up with his right hand after the single shot rings out
- He was rushed to a hospital by his private security team and was later declared dead.
- Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a social media post and has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff
- President Trump, who was shot at a campaign event last year, said he and Kirk had a close relationship
- Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared the fatal shooting a ‘political assassination’ and warned the perpetrator they could face the death penalty
- A ‘person of interest’ was taken into police custody but has since been has been released, FBI Director Kash Patel has said
Breaking:FBI issues update on Kirk murder probe, says suspect appears to be of college age
Beau Mason, Commisioner of Utah’s Department of Public Safety, spoke to the press on Thursday to provide an update on their probe.
He said investigators had several breakthroughs in the probe overnight, and have images of the suspect that they are not ready to release.
Mason said detectives were abloe to track the suspect’s movements from the time he arrived at Utah Valley University at at 11.52am local time.
The suspect, who they said appears to be of college age, moved to the roof of a campus building from where he fired the fatal shot.
After the shooting, he was tracked to the other side of the building. He then jumped off the roof and fled the scene, Mason said.
‘We do have good video of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time,’ Mason said. ‘We’re working through some technologies and some ways to identity this individual.
‘If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to you as the media and we will push that publicly to help us identify them. But we are confident in our abilities right now.’
FBI under pressure over open airport five miles from Charlie Kirk assassination
The FBI is facing questions over an airport that was left open after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, with speculation brewing over a jet that could be linked to his murder.
Despite a large-scale manhunt being launched for his killer, who has still yet to be found, authorities failed to close off the airspace surrounding Provo Airport.
Speculation on social media has pointed to a private jet that left the airport shortly after the single shot that killed the conservative activist rang out.
Flight tracking data shows the jet left the airport shortly after 2pm and headed south towards the Arizona border before it disappeared from radars.
It then reappeared on radars and returned to Provo roughly one hour after leaving the airport.
FBI grilled over airport close to Charlie Kirk hit as jet ‘vanishes’
Kirk, 31, was gunned down on Wednesday while speaking at a university event in Orem, Utah. Authorities failed to close off the airspace surrounding Provo Airport.