Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and close ally of US President Donald Trump was assassinated on Wednesday. The sniper who killed the 31-year-old jumped off the roof and fled after firing the shot. The FBI has announced that the assassin’s “high-powered” rifle has been found.
Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason said that the suspect “appears to be of collage age”. He also said that the police have images of the suspect. He added, “We are confident in our abilities to track that individual.”
FBI special agent Robert Bohls announced that the rifle was found in a “wooded area” where the shooter had fled and stated that the weapon will be further analysed by the FBI laboratory. He further stated that a “footwear impression” and “a forearm imprint” have also been found which are also in the process of being studied, per BBC.
“I can tell you this was a targeted event”, Bohls commented on the attack.
Answering a question from the media, Bohls said that although they possess the image of the shooter, they “can’t comment specifically on his face” as the investigation is underway. “We’ll release that shortly”, he said.
Mason said that he spoke to Kirk’s wife, Erika last night and informed that the “family is devasted”.
“I can only imagine what they’re going through”, he said, adding, “This is not Utah. This is not what we are known for.”
Two people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said.
The shooting drew bipartisan condemnation amd Trump ordered flags to be lowered at half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation.
Kirk had been fielding questions on mass shootings and gun violence when he was shot in the neck.
