Ammo in Charlie Kirk murder weapon ‘etched with pro-trans and antifascist slogans'? Disturbing details emerge

Hours after right-wing political conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at an event in Utah Valley University, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) held a press conference to provide details about the grisly incident. Kirk, a supporter of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot dead Wednesday. He was 31.

Officials believe they have recovered the firearm used to shoot Charlie Kirk Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, said at a news conference. Bohls described the weapon as a “high-powered, bolt action rifle” that was “recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled.”

The FBI will analyze the weapon, Bohls said. The investogators have also found and are analysing a "footwear impression, a paw print and a forearm imprint".


“Tips are being fully investigated,” Bohls said. “As of this morning, we have received more than 130 tips.”

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Video of Charlie Kirk's shooter obtained

Authorities have also obtained “good video” of the person they believe to be Charlie Kirk’s killer, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters.

“We do have good video of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time,” Beau said. “We’re working through some technologies and some ways to identity this individual.

“If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to you as the media and we will push that publicly to help us identify them. But we are confident in our abilities right now.”

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He added that authorities would like to “move forward in manner that keeps everyone safe and moves this process appropriately.” The suspect blended in well in the university setting and “appears to be of college age,” Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said.

Investigators believe the suspect is male, an FBI official said.

Kirk's shooting suspect released

Earlier in the day, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Charlie Kirk’s shooting suspect was initially in custody, but authorities later released the individual following questioning. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency,” Patel said in a statement on X.

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Prior to that, Kash Patel said the assassin was on the run when the FBI caught him, without revealing the suspect’s name. “The subject responsible for today’s horrific shooting that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody. Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for working with the FBI,” Patel wrote on X, after police had mistakenly detained another man seen in video kneeling and saying, “I have the right to remain silent.”

Following Kirk’s death, even political opponents like Joe Biden and Barack Obama condemned the killing and sent prayers to Kirk’s family, stressing that political violence has no place in America.

Hunting rifle found

The "high-powered bolt-action rifle" used to kill Kirk was found wrapped in a towel in the nearby woods after the shooting, according to Robert Bohls. Investigators reportedly found bullets engraved with transgender and antifascist messages inside the gun, as per WSJ.

The report claimed there were three unspent rounds with words on them in the magazine. It remains unclear what was etched on the ammunition

Charlie Kirk was best known for co-founding conservative nonprofit organization Turning Point USA when he was 18 years old. The media personality was passionate about organizing students and debating young people in an attempt to challenge their political beliefs.

His last words spoken to a student who was questioning him about transgender mass shooters from the audience. President Donald Trump announced the death of his close friend and ally.

"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie."

Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.