UT - Charlie Kirk Murdered on Utah College Stage *Arrest*

[Dotta]

Much earlier today they were scouring a particular neighborhood near the campus, talking to residents and asking for home surveillance video. ( believe it was indicated he went in that direction)
I guess nothing has come from that since nothing more has been reported from that.
If the suspect lived there, or was hiding there, I'd think they would have found him by now.

"Home surveillance footage collected in investigation.​

Federal authorities have collected a home surveillance camera that may have caught the person of interest fleeing in a neighbor's backyard.

Erwin Steele and his family own a home separated from Utah Valley University's Campus Drive by a chain fence, across from an alleyway the shooter may have used while fleeing.

The street is near a wooded area where investigators recovered a rifle.

Steele now says he believes the suspect ran down the alleyway, ditched his weapon, bypassed the fence where it ended and ran through his family's properties."

Link

Charlie Kirk killer 'identified' by law enforcement in manhunt

Charlie Kirk was killed after being shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

<modsnip: off topic>

 

[GatorFL]

The thing that makes me pause on whether or not this was "professional" or not is that fact that the sniper only took one shot. Usually the perpetrator is indiscriminately spraying bullets until he's taken out. Seems too "lucky" for the gunman to have one shot and succeed without some level of training.

This is a bolt action rifle. You have to cycle each round through the chamber. Likely a capacity of 5 or 6 bullets. Bolt action more accurate than a semi-auto like Crooks. He was more of a "spray and pray" type shooter in Butler.

 

[lonetraveler]

So is the T shirt and outfit to make it appear as though he is a disabled vet to cover the odd walk?

I think he just wanted to blend in.

 

[bestill]

CNN is posting new photos. He looks much younger in these photos, imo.

 

[EncyclopediaBrownJr]

12h ago
We have a graphic which shows the Utah Valley university campus, where Charlie Kirk was killed in a shooting yesterday.

The Google Earth view shows the potential escape route on an elevated walkway.
View attachment 614050

Graphic showing Utah Valley university campus and location of Charlie Kirk murder.

Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Trump encourages nonviolent response as search continues for shooting suspect

Trump says Kirk ‘was an advocate of nonviolence. That’s the way I’d like to see people respond.’ FBI releases images of shooting suspect and offers $100,000 reward for information

www.theguardian.com

From what I can tell watching the zoom in of the sniper, after he took his shot he ran towards the north side of the building and not towards the walkway.

The building appears to be built along a slope and jumping off the roof on the north side isn’t that big of a drop.

 

[mickey2942]

I just can't get past it that it would have just taken one little drone to scope out those roof tops.

Exactly. One would have thought since the assassination attempt on President Trump, that all rooftops in the area would have been secured.

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966291959074738448

 

[the-professor]

According to ABC News, the Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle that was found in a wooded area near the UVU campus was wrapped in a towel -- I wonder what the purpose of the towel was? Was it intended to conceal the weapon? Was it used to try and wipe off prints?

The towel was probably in the backpack and used to stabilize the rifle for the shot. Then it was used to, relatively poorly, conceal it in the woods. MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966291959074738448

Sunburn on the back of his neck?

jmo

 

[Vaderman]

This is a bolt action rifle. You have to cycle each round through the chamber. Likely a capacity of 5 or 6 bullets. Bolt action more accurate than a semi-auto like Crooks. He was more of a "spray and pray" type shooter in Butler.

I appreciate the explanation! My personal knowledge is limited to revolvers. I was picturing the Las Vegas shooting when thinking of spraying bullets.

 

[GatorFL]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966291959074738448

Is that his hair tied in a bun in the back?

 

[BigCityAccountant1]

The move indicates that the authorities have not been able to identify the person through facial recognition or other technology.

The move indicates that the authorities have not been able to identify the person through facial recognition or other technology.

Wondering if this person is/was a former student. Wondering if LE has combed thru photos of students. I've looked up the website for the college and a guy appears similar to the POI.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I know those more knowledgeable about gun proficiency than I am have said this was a very "doable" shot for someone with average-to-better shooting skills and particularly with the use of an optic, but I am still amazed that this wouldn't require a more professionally-trained shooter. But I also think that preparation and practice can improve the odds of success for an average to better shooter.

I wonder whether this shooter attended any previous Kirk events, to get a sense of the typical setup. So knew in advance there would likely be a canopy overhead, Kirk would be seated (thus making a smaller overall target and also a target that is not moving around much), and those event attendees who were at the microphone asking Kirk questions would be off to one side, rather than in front of Kirk.

Good point. There was no guarantee he'd have a line of sight.

 

[Tricia]

In case you missed the first post of this thread
Dear Websleuths Members.

We are not a political forum. However, there are times when politics and crime mash up. This is one of those times.
The rules for this discussion thread will be very strict. The rules are as follows:

NO POLITICAL OPINIONS. NO SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WITH POLITICAL OPINIONS.

*NO PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE VICTIM, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

*IF YOU BRING UP KIRK's POLITICAL VIEWS AS A POSSIBLE MOTIVE, YOU MUST POST A LINK FROM A MAINSTREAM MEDIA SITE THAT BACKS UP KIRK'S VIEWS. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY "HERE IS WHAT KIRK BELIEVED."

*NO THEORIES BASED ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FACTS AT HAND.

*IF YOU POST SOMETHING AS FACT, YOU MUST POST A MAINSTREAM MEDIA LINK TO BACK IT UP.

*NO COMMENTS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP

*A warning on the first offense and a timeout after that.

Please keep emotion out of it. Stick to the facts and theories based on facts. This is the only way we can keep this thread open for discussion.

Here is a Media Only thread for Charlie Kirk

These rules may seem harsh, but the rules are the only way we can keep the discussion from blowing up.
Thank you.
Tricia Griffith
Manager/Websleuths.com

 

[SMK777]

Much earlier today they were scouring a particular neighborhood near the campus, talking to residents and asking for home surveillance video. ( believe it was indicated he went in that direction)
I guess nothing has come from that since nothing more has been reported from that.
If the suspect lived there, or was hiding there, I'd think they would have found him by now.

Damn. I am worried he will flee the country.

 

[Yellowbelly]

They have no idea who he is, he could have grabbed an uber to the airport and be sipping beer in a bar in Thailand.

I had much the same thought. It's only in the last few hours that they seem to have a name, so he's basically got a 24hr head start on LE. If he's given some thought to his escape, he could be anywhere by now.

 

[MassGuy]

Is that his hair tied in a bun in the back?

I dunno. Might just be long hair sticking out.

 

[GTB72]

Security at Charlie Kirk Event Seemed Light to Those Who Attended

The problem of protecting campus speakers with polarizing opinions has confounded universities around the country in recent years.

www.nytimes.com

There were around 3,000 people at the event Wednesday afternoon at the university
But only six police officers were present, according to Utah Valley University’s chief of police, Jeff Long, who added that Mr. Kirk also had a private security team that traveled with him.
Across the country, many universities have only modest campus security forces, and the costs of protecting events can carry extraordinary price tags.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/09/11/charlie-kirk-shooting-college-campus-security/

"...The targeted killing presents a new danger to universities, which routinely host high-profile speakers on open campuses.
S. Daniel Carter, a campus safety consultant, rejected the idea that campuses should restrict entry and intensify security checks in response to the shooting.
“The essence of American higher education is the open campus,” Carter said. “We’re not going to lock everything down.”
Carter, who said that his expertise is not in large-event security..."
Rbm.

Please know I think the entirety of the blame falls solely on the killer.

I have not worked for security, but as a layperson's perspective : a possible step in the right direction would be (1.) To deploy drones over the tops of buildings, and (2.) Also make sure the entrances to any buildings are guarded during the event.

It wouldn't have to be permanent, and only used when the students are gathered and while the speaker is giving their presentation ?
For the student's safety as well.

Just doing number (1) and (2) might have saved Kirk's -- or anyone else speaking outdoors -- life ?
Wouldn't need to have LE trained snipers, just basic security that would be effective but maybe less costly -- which was mentioned towards the end of the first link above.

There shouldn't be a need to lock everything down, which would be impractical at best, but take measures to make it difficult or nearly impossible, for a perpetrator to get a shot off from a roof or upper window ?
Imo.

Indeed. Also, half a dozen men in the crowd with walkie talkies and binoculars facing away from CK and scanning the roofs of the buildings for anything untoward. The sniper would have been spotted immediately he ascended onto the roof and CK's security could immediately have been alerted. Not exactly hi-tech or costly.

 

[Ghostwheel]

According to ABC News, the Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle that was found in a wooded area near the UVU campus was wrapped in a towel -- I wonder what the purpose of the towel was? Was it intended to conceal the weapon? Was it used to try and wipe off prints?

This is purely anecdotal, so take it as such. My father owned a rifle very similar to this one. He inherited it from his father, who got it from Czechoslovakia. It was always stored wrapped in a towel. A towel prevents dings and scratches and (believe it or not) rust. The last one was the most important.

 

[Elley Mae]

"Home surveillance footage collected in investigation.​

Federal authorities have collected a home surveillance camera that may have caught the person of interest fleeing in a neighbor's backyard.

Erwin Steele and his family own a home separated from Utah Valley University's Campus Drive by a chain fence, across from an alleyway the shooter may have used while fleeing.

The street is near a wooded area where investigators recovered a rifle.

Steele now says he believes the suspect ran down the alleyway, ditched his weapon, bypassed the fence where it ended and ran through his family's properties."

Link

Charlie Kirk killer 'identified' by law enforcement in manhunt

Charlie Kirk was killed after being shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

<modsnip: off topic>

Just there on maps and they have campus rd closed that borders the neighborhood and campus.