On Thursday morning, the FBI held a press conference, providing some very notable updates on the person who assassinated Charlie Kirk a day earlier, including the finding of a high-powered rifle in a nearby wooded area. That comes after the conservative activist was gunned down while holding an outdoor event at a Utah college campus.
According to the FBI, the shooter fired a single shot before jumping from the roof he was perched on. Investigators also recovered several impressions from the scene, including a palm print and footprint. Further, they shared that the killer is believed to be "college-aged."
BOYLES: Good morning. My name is Robert Boyles, and I am the special agent in charge of the Salt Lake field office. Following yesterday's tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, FBI agents have been working around the clock in coordination with our law enforcement partners. We are and will continue to work non-stop until we find the person that has committed this heinous crime and find out why they did it.
This morning, I can tell that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday's shooting. It is a high-powered, bolt-action rifle. That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled, though the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected a footwear impression, a palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis.
Now, I understand there are a lot of questions about motive. I assure you that all leads, tips, and tips are being fully investigated. As of this morning, we have received more than 130 tips. We thank the community for that. The FBI has brought every resource to bear, and we will continue to do that throughout the course of this investigation.
Finding the weapon in the woods nearby is a big development. If a palm print was found at the shooter's perch on the roof, indicating they weren't wearing gloves, it's likely there is more evidence to be collected off the gun itself. The ability to trace the weapon could also play a big role in helping to find the person who did this.
That's not all the authorities have, though. Another official took to the podium and said they have "high quality" video of the assassin, including from before and after the shooting.
OFFICIAL: Through all that work last night, we were able to make a few breakthroughs. We were able to track the movements of the shooter, starting at 11:52 AM, the subject arrived on campus, shortly away from campus. We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, and across the roof to a shooting location. After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the roof, jumped off the building, and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood.
The official went on to say that they aren't going to release the footage yet because they believe they have the technology and information needed to go ahead and identify whoever it is. That decision was likely made so the killer isn't tipped off to exactly how much of his face is known to authorities. With that said, it was also announced that they will release the footage if their current leads don't pay off.
As to a motive, there weren't any details given at the presser, but one can assume they know more than they are releasing at this point. That again is likely to not tip off not just the shooter, but any organizations or entities he may have been coordinating with. Unlike the past administration, I fully expect the current FBI leadership to keep to their word and provide every detail about the shooter in due time.