On Wednesday, September 10th, prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot during a speech at a university in Utah. Audio forensic expert Rob Maher stated on Thursday that audio recorded near Kirk’s podium indicated that he was hit by a single supersonic bullet.
Supersonic bullets are typically fired from high-powered weapons, ruling out the possibility of the shooter using a small handgun or similar weapon due to their lower-than-supersonic firing velocity.
Maher noted that the distinctive sounds of “pops” and “bangs” heard in the recording indicated that the bullet was fired from a rifle. However, the type or variant of the weapon could not be determined solely based on the audio evidence.
Analyzing the audio, Maher found that the time interval between the ballistic shockwave “pop” and the consecutive “bangs” of the muzzle blast was approximately 240 milliseconds. Based on this time interval and the estimated bullet speed of 800 meters per second, it was deduced that the shooting location was approximately 153 meters away from Kirk’s podium.
At a press conference in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls stated that a weapon believed to have been used in the shooting had been recovered. The weapon was identified as a “high-powered bolt-action rifle.”
“This rifle was found in the woods where the shooter fled through,” he said. “It will undergo analysis at the FBI laboratory.”
Bohls added that they had also discovered “palm prints and forearm impressions for analysis.” The shooter remains at large.
Firearms consultant David Dyson told Sky News that based on their assessment of the range, the shooter likely needed a certain level of marksmanship.
He noted that while the rifle might be challenging for an inexperienced person to hit a target, for someone skilled, the “range is not too great.”
“For example, at 800 meters, there are shooting events. So, you can be quite accurate over distances significantly beyond 150 yards,” he said.
Law enforcement stated that they are continuing to “search for all potential suspects related to this incident” and are following multiple leads.
The agency urged the public to keep providing tips, stating that “any amount of information is valuable.”
(This article reference CNN’s reporting)