Authorities investigating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk released images Thursday showing a rooftop “sniper’s nest” from which investigators say a gunman fired a single, fatal shot at the Turning Point USA founder during a midday event at Utah Valley University.
Police said spent shell casings were recovered on the roof of the Losee Building, about 200 yards from the stage where Kirk was speaking to an audience of roughly 3,000 people. Investigators said the shooter then fled, apparently dropping from the roof and escaping into a nearby neighborhood; a ladder was found propped against the building and has been entered into evidence.
Law enforcement officials said a Mauser .30‑caliber bolt‑action rifle was later recovered in woodland near the campus, hidden in a towel. Investigators reported a spent casing and three additional rounds in the magazine, and the weapon was being analyzed at a federal laboratory. Officials also released an image of a person of interest in the ongoing manhunt; the individual was seen wearing a black T‑shirt featuring an American flag and a bald eagle with the words “Land of the Free.... Home of the Brave.” A reward of $100,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest.
In a briefing Thursday morning, authorities said investigators had found engravings referencing transgender and antifascist ideology, though they did not provide further detail on how that material may relate to motive. A press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon was canceled less than an hour before it was to begin because of "rapid developments in our investigation," the Utah Department of Public Safety said.
Tim Clemente, a former FBI counterterrorism agent, told CNN that a shot from about 200 yards was within the capability of a shooter with moderate training. "It’s not a spectacular shot," Clemente said. "I was actually training snipers (Wednesday) morning ... and they were taking shots out 500, 600 yards routinely. So 200 yards isn’t a terrible distance. But you need to know how to aim and control your trigger pull."
Two people initially taken into custody in the immediate aftermath of the shooting were later released after investigators determined neither had fired the fatal shot, officials said. The Utah Department of Public Safety described the investigation as an active and urgent manhunt and asked anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA and was a prominent conservative commentator and organizer, was shot in the neck during the event on Wednesday in Orem, Utah. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Utah to meet with Kirk’s family and offered to have the casket transported to the family’s home in Phoenix aboard Air Force Two, officials said. President Donald Trump posted that Kirk was dead and extended condolences to the family.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and two young children. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
The shooting has prompted heightened security at political events and renewed scrutiny of safety protocols for public appearances by high‑profile figures. Federal, state and local agencies are coordinating the investigation, and forensic teams continue to process evidence recovered from the roof, the ladder, the recovered firearm and the scene around the campus.
Officials did not release an updated timeline for when additional information would be made public. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities asked members of the public to provide tips through established law enforcement channels rather than sharing unverified information on social media.