Weapon Recovered: Investigators found a high-powered bolt-action rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near Utah Valley University. It’s reportedly a Mauser .30-06 caliber rifle.
Shooter’s Tactics: Surveillance footage shows the suspect climbing onto a rooftop before firing a single shot that struck Kirk in the neck while he was answering a question about mass shootings. The shooter then fled into nearby woods.
Images Released: Authorities released grainy security camera images of a person of interest described as college-aged, wearing a black top with a bald eagle over a U.S. flag, black sunglasses, and a dark baseball cap.
Evidence Collected: Investigators have palm prints, shoe imprints (likely Converse), and forearm prints from the scene. Ammunition found at the site reportedly bore engraved messages linked to ideological themes.
Political Reverberations: President Trump called the killing a “heinous assassination” and announced Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vice President JD Vance canceled his 9/11 commemoration trip to visit Kirk’s family.
Public Response: Over 7,000 tips have poured in. Utah’s governor and FBI officials are urging the public to help identify the suspect. The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward.
(source ABC News)
—Agencies
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