Messages Were Found Written on The Gun And Ammunition Used in The Assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Messages Were Found Written on The Gun And Ammunition Used in The Assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Bullets recovered after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were reportedly engraved with messages referencing “transgender and antifascist ideology,” according to a law enforcement source cited by The Wall Street Journal. The paper, referencing an internal bulletin and an individual familiar with the investigation, reported that the ammunition was discovered inside a .30 caliber hunting rifle abandoned in a wooded area near Utah Valley University.

Investigators say the rifle was wrapped in a towel, with a spent cartridge still chambered and three unspent rounds in the magazine—each allegedly carrying etched wording. This detail, if confirmed, could offer significant insight into the suspect’s potential motive.

The FBI confirmed Thursday that a bolt-action rifle was recovered near the scene, consistent with the gunman’s escape route. However, the agency’s public statement did not address any engravings or ideological markings on the ammunition.

The shooting occurred as Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA and an ally of former President Donald Trump, was addressing hundreds of students in the university courtyard. He was speaking on topics including transgender issues and gun violence when he was struck in the neck by a single bullet fired from an elevated rooftop.

Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the attack, which authorities have described as a targeted killing. While The Wall Street Journal has reported on the engraved bullets, no official confirmation has been issued, leaving investigators to determine whether the alleged markings played a role in the shooter’s intent.