Crime
FBI Recovers Rifle Used in Charlie Kirk Assassination, Cartridges Found with Engraved Transgender and Anti-Fascist Ideology
Witnesses described the shooter as appearing to be of college age.
OREM, Utah โ Federal investigators have announced that the weapon used in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has been recovered.
Authorities confirmed the firearm to be a high-powered, imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, which was located in a wooded area near the UVU campus, consistent with the suspected shooterโs escape route.
According to the FBI, surveillance video shows the gunman firing a single round from an elevated rooftop position on a building adjacent to the student courtyard, where Kirk was addressing attendees.
After the shot was fired, the suspect is seen jumping from the rooftop and fleeing on foot into a nearby neighborhood.
Witnesses described the shooter as appearing to be of college age.
The rifle was found wrapped in a towel.
Investigators reported that a spent cartridge remained chambered, along with three unspent rounds in the top-fed magazine.
Each of the cartridges contained engraved wording expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology, which is now being examined as part of the motive investigation.
An emergency trace of the firearm has been submitted, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Salt Lake City field division is pursuing leads generated from that trace.
The rifle and ammunition have been transferred to the FBI Laboratory for DNA analysis and fingerprint processing.
Once forensic testing is complete, the firearm will be fully disassembled to determine additional importer and manufacturing details.
Authorities confirmed that multiple persons of interest have been detained or interviewed based on eyewitness testimony and video evidence; however, the primary suspect has not yet been identified.
The investigation is being jointly led by the FBI and the Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with assistance from the ATF and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
Officials continue to emphasize that the attack appeared to be targeted, with the shooter deliberately aiming from above into the outdoor event.
The shooting occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. MST on Wednesday, while Kirk was speaking at a student-sponsored Turning Point USA event. Roughly 3,000 people were in attendance. Despite heavy securityโincluding six UVU police officers assigned to the event and Kirkโs private security teamโthe shooter successfully carried out the attack before fleeing.
Kirk was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Earlier in the investigation, two individualsโGeorge Zinn and Zachariah Qureshiโwere taken into custody but later cleared of any direct connection to the shooting. Zinn faces a charge of obstruction by UVU Police, while Qureshi was released after questioning.
The FBI has established a digital media tip line at fbi.gov/UtahValleyShooting, urging the public to share any photos, videos, or information that could assist investigators.
The Utah Department of Public Safetyโs State Crime Lab is assisting in processing several active crime scenes, including the courtyard where Kirk was shot, the rooftop firing position, and the wooded area where the firearm was discovered.
University officials announced that Utah Valley University will remain closed for the rest of the week. Updates for students, faculty, and staff are being provided at uvu.info.
โThis is a tragic moment for Utah and for our country,โ officials said in a joint statement. โWe encourage anyone struggling with the impact of this event to contact 988, Utahโs mental health crisis line, for immediate assistance.โ
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. โ Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.