A college-aged male, blending effortlessly with students, fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, and the FBI says they have clear video footage to hunt him down. The tragic incident occurred on September 10, 2025, at 12:24 PM in Orem, Utah, during Kirk’s speech for his “American Comeback Tour.” Authorities are confident in identifying the suspect, who remains at large, as they analyze compelling evidence that points to a premeditated attack.
The shooting unfolded when a single bullet, fired from a rooftop in an adjacent building, struck Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, in the neck. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, described as a young male wearing a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag and eagle design, blue jeans, dark shoes, and a black backpack. The video shows him leaping from the rooftop and fleeing on foot. The FBI has released images of this individual, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Law enforcement recovered a high-powered, older-model Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus, along the suspect’s apparent escape path. The rifle contained a spent cartridge and three unspent rounds, all engraved with transgender and anti-fascist messages, suggesting a possible ideological motive, though officials have not yet confirmed one.
The FBI and ATF are conducting DNA and fingerprint analysis on the weapon, with an emergency trace underway to determine its origins. The firearm will soon be disassembled for further details about its importer.
The attack followed a tense campus environment, as a petition with over 6,800 signatures had demanded UVU cancel Kirk’s speech, citing his conservative views as polarizing. Eyewitnesses described chaos after the gunshot, with attendees scattering, some wading through a campus fountain to escape.
Kirk was rushed to a hospital in a black SUV but was pronounced dead shortly after. President Donald Trump mourned him as a “true patriot,” while Utah Governor Spencer Cox called it a “political assassination.”
Despite initial reports from FBI Director Kash Patel suggesting a suspect was detained, later updates clarified that the primary Charlie Kirk shooter remains unidentified, with several persons of interest questioned based on video and witness accounts. The investigation, co-led by the FBI and Utah State Bureau of Investigation with ATF support, is moving quickly.
Authorities emphasize the quality of the surveillance footage, stating, “We do have good video footage of the individual—we are confident that we will be able to identify him.”
Public reactions are deeply divided. Nationwide vigils honor Kirk, a vocal supporter of Second Amendment rights and Bitcoin as “freedom money.” Yet, some social media posts, including from a Miami anesthesiologist and students at the scene, expressed celebration, fueling debates about political violence and the Charlie Kirk assassination.
JUST IN: The FBI announces they’re offering $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of Charlie Kirk’s assassin. People with information need to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.”
