Charlie Kirk's killer was of "college-age" who mingled with students before climbing onto a rooftop and using a high-powered bolt-action rifle to carry out the attack, authorities said on Thursday morning.
The gunman entered the campus at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday — less than 30 minutes before firing the single deadly shot that killed conservative influencer Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety said at a morning press conference. Kirk was shot in the neck and was rushed to the hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries. The gunman remains at large as cops frantically hunt for him.
Police Have Gunman's Photo
Investigators say they do have video of the suspected gunman but aren't releasing it to the public yet. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said the shooter's rifle was found in a wooded area near campus and noted that the Bureau has already received more than 130 tips connected to the case.
Bohls added that investigators also found shoe prints and a palm print near the scene of the shooting, giving detectives more evidence to work with. However, they have not yet been able to identify the shooter.
Kirk was shot dead on stage on Wednesday afternoon while leading a Q&A session during his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University in Orem.
No Signs of the Gunman Yet
Witnesses say he had just started responding to a question about mass shootings involving transgender people when a bullet struck him in the neck from nearly 200 yards away. The sudden gunfire sent the packed crowd of thousands into chaos, according to sources and a wave of posts on social media.
A chilling video from the scene shows Kirk jolting backward, clutching his neck in pain as the sound of a single gunshot echoed through the crowd.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery, but he ultimately didn't survive his devastating injuries.
Authorities confirmed that Kirk's killer is still on the loose. Earlier reports had claimed a suspect was in custody, but police later corrected that information.
