Investigators in Charlie Kirk killing find weapon, release images of person of interest

Kirk, a 31-year-old author, podcast host and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, helped build the Republican Party's support among younger voters. He was killed on Wednesday by a single gunshot as he gave a talk at a university in Utah in what Trump called a "heinous assassination."

Investigators have yet to publicly discuss any motive, but Trump told reporters that he had an indication of the killer's motivation. "We'll let you know about that later," he said, adding that law enforcement was making "big progress" in the investigation.

FBI and state officials said the killer arrived on the campus a few minutes before the start of the event, a debate led by Kirk titled "Prove Me Wrong" outdoors in front of 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles (65 km) south of Salt Lake City.

Security-camera videos show a person going up stairwells to get onto a roof before firing at Kirk, the officials told a press conference. Kirk, a staunch defender of gun rights, was answering an audience question about mass shootings when the bullet struck his neck. Audience members fled in panic.

The shooter jumped off the roof and fled into an adjoining neighborhood, said Robert Bohls, the FBI special agent in charge.

Images released by authorities showing a person of interest in the fatal shooting of U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk. Photo from X/FBI Salt Lake City

Investigators found a "high-powered, bolt-action" rifle in a nearby wooded area, and were examining that along with palm prints and footprints for clues. With classes canceled on Thursday, the roof of the building on the largely deserted campus and the woods were strung with yellow tape as investigators scoured them for evidence.

The shooter appears to be of college age and "blended in well" on the campus, Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters.

The shooter has not been publicly identified, though lawmakers, commentators and online sleuths have already filled social media and message boards with speculation and blame-casting about the killer's ideology.

FBI Director Kash Patel was traveling to Orem and would brief reporters later on Thursday, NBC News reported.

The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the killer's arrest and circulated grainy images taken from security cameras showing a "person of interest" wearing a black top, black sunglasses and a dark baseball cap. The long-sleeved top was emblazoned with an image of a bald eagle flying across a U.S. flag.

Utah state officials called the person in the photos "the potential shooter."