Kirk was speaking to a crowd at UVU under a tent when he was shot in the neck. He was taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital where he later died.

At a press briefing Thursday morning, FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent Robert Bohls said the weapon used is a high-powered bolt action rifle.

“That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled,” he said. “So the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis.”

Commissioner Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety said while they don’t currently have a suspect in custody, they have an idea who may be responsible for the act.

Mason didn’t elaborate much on the potential suspect other than it appears to be a male who “blended in well with a college institution.”

“We’re not releasing any details right now and we will soon,” he said. “The individual appears to be of college age. We are confident in our abilities to track that individual. If we’re unsuccessful in identifying them, immediately, we will reach out for the public’s help and the media’s help in pushing those photos.”

Later on Wednesday morning, the FBI posted on social media requesting the public’s help in identifying a “person of interest.”

We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

1-800-CALL-FBI

Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc

— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025

Authorities said on Wednesday they had apprehended two suspects who they believed were connected to the shooting, but both were released after interrogation with law enforcement.

Mason said they’ve also been able to track the individual Wednesday morning before and after the shooting.

Mason said from the information they’ve gathered, the person arrived on the UVU campus at around 11:52 a.m. Wednesday morning. It’s believed the individual entered the campus, went up a stairwell and accessed a roof across from where the event was taking place.

“After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood,” Mason said.

Authorities suspect the shooting was a targeted attack and they don’t believe there is any danger to the public.

A tip line created to gather information and images from the public had received more than 130 tips so far, according to Mason.

They are asking for the community’s continued help to successfully identify and locate the individual.

People are asked to submit any information they think may be helpful to fbi.gov/UtahValleyShooting.

The investigation and manhunt remains ongoing as of Thursday morning.