Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Topics: Politics, US News, Crime, Charlie Kirk
Jen Thomas
Topics: Politics, US News, Crime, Charlie Kirk
UPDATE 12/09/25 3.45PM - An FBI press conference has confirmed the messages on the bullet casings thought to have been used by the Charlie Kirk murder suspect. They are as follows:
While the bullets were inscribed with anti-fascist messages, they did not include 'transgender ideology as previously reported.
ORIGINAL STORY - Officials have confirmed that the ammunition used to kill Charlie Kirk had messages engraved on them.
Advert
It comes after a breakthrough was revealed by the FBI that the weapon used in the deadly shooting had been recovered.
Conservative speaker and Donald Trump ally Kirk had been speaking at the Utah Valley University when he was shot in the neck, while answering a question about gun crime.
It was later confirmed that the father-of-two had died, at the age of 31, and a manhunt for his killer is underway.
Footage has been shared on social media appearing to show a person clad in black lying down on the roof of a nearby building, before jumping up and running away.
The weapon has since been recovered, a .30 caliber hunting rifle, and a law enforcement bulletin reportedly reveals the bullets had messaging on them.
Advert
The Wall Street Journal quotes a source as saying the ammunition was engraved with 'messages of transgender and antifascist ideology.'
According to the Daily Mail, a source claims the rifle was discovered wrapped up in a towel, with a spent cartridge in the chamber.
A magazine was also found containing three unspent rounds, all of which had wording written on them.
Robert Bohls is a special agent in charge of Salt Lake City field office for the FBI, and he said the 'high-powered bolt action rifle' was found in a wooded area.
Advert
He said the shooter is believed to be male and of college age, and is thought to have fled to the woods after the killing.
The rifle has now been sent to an FBI lab for further analysis, and palm and footwear prints were also discovered on the scene.
More than 130 tips have been received about potential suspects, who the first-responders on the scene described as being dressed all in black with aviator-style sunglasses.
Beau Mason, Utah's public safety chief, added that they have 'good video footage' of the suspect.
Advert
Kirk was speaking to students at the university, and had answered questions about transgender individuals who had been involved in mass shootings moments before he was assassinated, after answering a question about gun violence.
He was asked: "Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" and Kirk replied: "Too many."
They then asked: "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?" to which Kirk answered, "Counting or not counting gang violence?" and he was shot seconds later.
The search for his killer continues.