As federal and local law enforcement intensify their manhunt for the suspect who fatally shot Charlie Kirk at a Utah college campus, an anonymous law enforcement source has made a claim that’s now circulating: ammunition found at the scene reportedly had engravings referencing “transgender and antifascist” messages.
The report, published by the Wall Street Journal and citing someone said to be familiar with the investigation, described markings on the bullets recovered from the bolt-action rifle used in the shooting. The FBI has not confirmed the claim, and a senior law enforcement official later told The New York Times that the initial report of engravings “might turn out to have been misread or misinterpreted.”
For now, the FBI is focused on finding the gunman—believed to be a young man who slipped into Utah Valley University’s Orem campus, blended in with students, accessed a rooftop, and took a single, lethal shot at Kirk in front of a crowd of thousands.
The Suspect and the Escape
Authorities say the shooter arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. Wednesday. He was caught on video moving through stairwells before reaching the rooftop of the building where the shot was fired. At 12:20 p.m., Kirk was struck in the neck by a single bullet as he responded to an audience question about mass shootings involving transgender individuals.
Footage from the scene showed Kirk convulsing and bleeding heavily as students and attendees at the outdoor amphitheater ducked for cover. He was rushed to a hospital but died shortly after.
After firing, the suspect was seen running across the roof and jumping from the building before fleeing into a nearby neighborhood. Authorities say they are still trying to determine how far he got.
“We do have good video of this individual,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason. “We’re not sure how far he has gone yet,” added FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls.
Investigators are now combing the surrounding areas for surveillance footage and collecting physical evidence, including palm and forearm imprints and a footwear impression believed to belong to the suspect.
Rifle Recovered Near Campus
Shortly after the shooting, authorities located a high-powered, bolt-action .30-06 rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near campus. That rifle is believed to be the weapon used in the assassination.
It’s from that rifle that the engraved ammunition was reportedly recovered—though again, that detail remains unverified. When asked about the alleged markings, a spokesperson for the FBI told The Independent, “As this is an ongoing investigation, the FBI declines to comment.”
The detail has already stirred political speculation, but authorities have not pointed to any confirmed ideological motive at this point.
The Manhunt Intensifies
The FBI released photos of a “person of interest” on Thursday, asking the public for help in identifying him. The man appears to be of college age and was wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a long-sleeved black shirt with what looked like an American flag printed on it.
Investigators are going door to door in the area, seeking any doorbell cam or surveillance footage. They’ve asked the public to submit any relevant photos or videos taken at the event or nearby campus grounds.
Authorities have also warned the public not to harass two men who were detained shortly after the shooting and later released. One was charged with obstruction but has not been linked to the shooting itself. The other had initially been described by the governor as a person of interest, but was let go after questioning.
“These people were not involved,” Mason said, urging the public to let investigators do their work.
Campus Divided, Classes Canceled
Kirk was on the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour,” a Turning Point USA speaking tour targeting young conservatives. His appearance had already drawn backlash, including an online petition with nearly 1,000 signatures calling for the university to cancel the event.
Administrators declined, citing the school’s commitment to free speech and the First Amendment.
Now, the university is closed until Monday. Classes have been suspended, and the campus remains under heightened security.
Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative figure, a close ally of President Donald Trump, and the founder of the youth-oriented political group Turning Point USA. His death has already ignited fierce political debate online and on cable news, especially as unconfirmed reports of ideological markings on the bullets gain traction.
He leaves behind his wife, Erika Lane Kirk, and their two young children.
As for the motive, law enforcement officials have not provided any answers yet.
