The hunt for Charlie Kirk’s assassin has taken a dramatic turn.
Federal agents and local police descended on a quiet residential block in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, seizing a security camera they believe may hold crucial footage of the masked sniper who fatally shot the 31-year-old conservative firebrand during a Turning Point USA event.
“I think my brother’s camera caught him,” local resident Erwin Steele told reporters. “We saw someone bolt through our backyard right after the shots rang out.”
The surveillance camera—mounted on a floodlight unit above a garage—was removed by an officer using a ladder as FBI agents and ATF officials secured the scene. Steele’s family owns several homes on West Street, one of which borders Utah Valley University, where Kirk was gunned down Wednesday afternoon.
The alleged assassin is believed to have fled down a wooded alley behind the campus, hopping fences and running through the Steele properties. “It was just chaos. We didn’t know what had happened until later,” Steele added.
A bolt-action, high-powered rifle was recovered nearby—abandoned along what investigators say was the suspect’s escape route.
Kirk, a father of two and the founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, was in the middle of a Q&A session at Utah Valley University when a single bullet tore through his neck.
He collapsed on stage as horrified attendees screamed and ducked for cover.
“I’ll never forget the sound,” said student Megan Lawton, who was just 15 feet from the podium. “It was one shot, then total panic. People were running everywhere.”
Emergency crews rushed Kirk to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead within the hour.
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls, investigators believe the shot came from roughly 200 yards away—from a rooftop perch atop the Losee Center, a campus building that directly faces the courtyard where Kirk stood.
Images circulating online appear to show a shadowy figure in dark clothing on that roof moments before the fatal shot. The FBI has released photos of a “person of interest” dressed in black tactical gear and carrying what appears to be a long gun.
“We recovered a palm print, a footprint, and even a forearm impression near the scene,” Bohls revealed during a press briefing. “We believe this was a calculated assassination.”
As of Friday morning, the suspect remains at large. Authorities are urging anyone with footage from the area—especially from doorbell or security cameras—to come forward.
Orem Police Chief Michael Harris called the crime “one of the most brazen and disturbing attacks on free speech this state has ever seen.”
“This was not a random act,” Harris said. “This was planned, executed, and carried out with chilling precision.”
Charlie Kirk, 31, was a prominent voice in conservative politics, best known for founding Turning Point USA in 2012 at just 18 years old. The group—popular among college conservatives—became a launchpad for Kirk’s rise as a frequent Fox News guest, speaker, and influencer in pro-Trump circles.
Just days before his death, Kirk posted on X (formerly Twitter), “We must never back down from telling the truth.”
His final tour, dubbed the American Comeback Tour, was aimed at energizing young voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Kirk leaves behind a wife and two young children.
The assassination has sent shockwaves across the country, with allies and critics alike stunned by the unprecedented attack. The FBI has not ruled out political motivation, though no suspects or affiliations have been confirmed.
Former President Donald Trump called the killing “an act of political terror” and urged the Justice Department to treat it as domestic terrorism.
“He was a patriot. A fighter. And he was silenced,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “We must find the monster who did this.”
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You know, it is now more than 24 hours since this horrible murder; therefore, it seems that the rush to get online should have calmed considerably. It seems that there should now be time to proofread and edit. Since it is still Thursday, it\’s premature to announce that as of Friday morning, the shooter is still at large. Sadly,it may be true when Friday arrives, but perhaps getting the day of the week correct would be a good place to start if you want to be a trusted news source rather than some shoddy clickbait site. While Donald Trump sat out 4 years between terms, he is the CURRENT President. It\’s not exactly accurate to describe him as former President Trump. You might argue that it isn\’t totally inaccurate, it also is a glaring error to those who recognise him as the sitting Chief Executive..Do better, please!