Orem: Authorities have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a public event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

The weapon was found in nearby woods, but the suspected sniper remains unidentified and at large.

The shooter escaped after firing a single fatal shot

Law enforcement officials say the shooter, who appeared to be of college age, fired a single shot from a rooftop before fleeing into a nearby neighbourhood. He reportedly blended in with the university crowd before the attack and escaped immediately after.

The sniper who assassinated Charlie Kirk is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighbourhood after firing one shot and has not been identified, authorities said.

They added that the area has been secured, and they are reviewing surveillance footage.

Kirk was killed in front of a crowd of 3,000

Charlie Kirk, 31, was speaking at an outdoor event hosted by his nonprofit political youth organisation, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, at the Sorensen Center courtyard on campus, when the sniper bullet struck him in the neck. The shooting was captured in videos circulating online, showing a visibly stunned crowd gasping and fleeing in panic.

Roughly 3,000 people were in attendance, with six campus officers and Kirk’s personal security present at the time.

National shock and political response

Trump said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run, and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up Trump's second Republican administration, Vance wrote.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organise and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024; he helped us staff the entire government.”

Ongoing investigation

Authorities have released two people who were initially detained, confirming they had no link to the shooting. Investigators are working with campus security footage and witness testimonies to track the shooter’s movements before and after the incident.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed accountability, calling the assassination “a direct attack on democracy.” The campus has been evacuated and will remain closed until Monday.