Authorities Have Weapon, Hunt Continues

The shooter who killed Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, is being described as being of "college age" and blended in with students on campus. 

The individual used a high-powered bolt-action rifle, which was later recovered by authorities in a wooded area near the campus where the suspect fled. 

According to the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety, the suspect arrived on campus around 11:52 a.m., accessed a rooftop via stairwells, fired a single fatal shot, and then escaped by jumping off the building into a nearby neighborhood. Surveillance footage captured the suspect’s movements, and authorities have images of the suspect’s face, though they have not yet released them publicly. 

Forensic evidence, including a footwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprint, is being analyzed. The suspect remains at large, and the FBI is seeking public assistance to identify them.

Also today  President Donald Trump announced, during a 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon, that he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. 

Trump described Kirk as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions,” expressing grief and noting that Kirk’s voice and courage would live on, particularly among young people. The date for the medal ceremony has not been specified, but Trump emphasized it would draw a “very big crowd.”