Authorities said Thursday they recovered the bolt-action rifle used in the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk, finding the firearm abandoned in woods near the site of the Sept. 11, 2025, shooting in Orem, Utah.
Federal and local agents are continuing a manhunt for the suspect who fled the scene, and investigators said the recovered weapon will undergo extensive forensic testing as they seek to trace its ownership and how it may have changed hands prior to the attack.
The recovered firearm is a bolt-action rifle, a type of long gun commonly used for hunting and target shooting that requires the user to manually operate the bolt to eject a spent cartridge and chamber the next round. Retired Marine Lt. Col. Hal Kempfer, interviewed by Fox News Digital, described the process: lifting and pulling the bolt back moves a spent cartridge, pushing it forward chambers a new round, and lowering the bolt locks the round and seals the chamber. That manual action limits the rifle to one shot at a time before the shooter must cycle the bolt.
Kempfer said bolt-action rifles can leave behind different forensic patterns from semiautomatic weapons because, depending on how the shooter cycles the action, spent cartridges may remain in the chamber rather than being ejected. "That's just one of those things where, if you've thought it through, you know that you can't leave any forensic evidence for investigators to work with," he said. Kempfer also noted investigators will examine the weapon's history and serial numbers to try to trace where it was sold and whether it passed through intermediaries, including possible straw purchasers.
Investigators have been collecting evidence from the scene near Utah Valley University where Kirk was fatally shot. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls spoke at a press conference updating the public on the search for the suspect and the ongoing forensic work, saying agents were "following up on leads" and coordinating with local authorities. Authorities have not released the identity of any suspect and have not announced a motive.
Kempfer, who served as an intelligence officer in the Marine Corps, said the shot that killed Kirk "was not a particularly difficult" one but required planning and favorable conditions. He said distance, clear weather and an elevated firing position can aid accuracy for a shooter using a bolt-action rifle, and that hunters frequently make similar shots.
Forensic analysts will examine the recovered rifle for fingerprints, DNA and any other trace evidence, and they will also search for microstamping or other identifying marks on the weapon that could connect it to prior uses. Tracing the firearm's sale and transfer history is a common investigative step, and authorities said they will explore whether the rifle was sold through conventional channels or obtained by other means.
The recovery of the rifle comes amid nationwide attention and local vigils held after the assassination. Law enforcement officials cautioned the public against speculation and asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Officials did not provide additional details about the timeline of the rifle's recovery beyond saying it was found in the wooded area near the crime scene.
As forensic work proceeds, investigators will also review surveillance footage, witness statements and cellphone data gathered around the time of the shooting, officials said. The FBI and local police urged community members to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or information that could assist the investigation.
Authorities emphasized that recovering the rifle is an important step but not an endpoint. Forensic and investigative teams said the process of linking the weapon to a purchaser, identifying those who handled it, and finding the person who fired it will take time and methodical work.
No arrests have been announced. The FBI and local law enforcement continue to solicit tips from the public as they work to locate the individual responsible for the shooting.