Trump Says Charlie Kirk’s Shooter Has Been Found

Authorities have now released images of a person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

A $100,000 reward is on offer for information leading to the shooter’s identification. The suspect is still at large. Law enforcement says a high-powered bolt-action rifle, believed to be the weapon used, has been recovered. Investigators also have collected physical evidence: a footwear impression, a palm print, and forearm imprints from the rooftop where Kirk was allegedly shot. BBC reports confirm these items are being carefully analysed.

Suspect Profile and Escape Route

Officials describe the suspect as appearing to be of college age and someone who blended in with the campus crowd.

Surveillance and eyewitness accounts suggest that the suspect arrived on campus before the event, entered via stairwells, climbed to a rooftop (identified as the Losee Center building), moved across the roof to the approximate gunpoint location, then shortly after the shooting jumped off the roof and fled into a nearby neighbourhood.

Crime Scene & Environment

On campus, the area remains cordoned off.

Drone imagery shows the event tent labeled “American Comeback” still standing—but surrounded by litter and personal items left behind in the panic. Yellow crime-scene tape is up, seating areas are scattered with bags and abandoned objects.

What Authorities Are Saying

Law enforcement expresses confidence in tracing the suspect, citing the physical evidence plus “good video footage.” However, they have not yet released clear images of the suspect’s face, indicating that if they cannot identify them through current leads, they will release photos publicly to seek help.

Two individuals who were briefly questioned earlier have been cleared.

Public Reaction & Political Fallout

The incident has triggered broad political commentary. President Trump announced he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Leaders across the spectrum are calling for unity and denouncing political violence. Some express concern over how public safety, free speech, and political rhetoric intersect in this moment.

Gaps & Unanswered Questions

• The identity and motive of the suspect remain unknown.
• It’s not confirmed whether the retrieved rifle is conclusively the one used, though authorities believe it likely is.
• No official statement yet about whether the suspect had any accomplices or how they escaped detection after fleeing.
• Authorities have not released crime lab results or detailed ballistic or trajectory reports to the public.

You might also want to read: FBI Releases Chilling New Footage of Charlie Kirk’s Shooter Escaping from Rooftop