Rifle behind Charlie Kirk killing may be untraceable WWI relic, investigators say
Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle tied to the suspect's grandfather; DNA on the weapon and a note to a roommate are cited by authorities
Investigators say the rifle believed to have killed Charlie Kirk may be a decades‑old, untraceable firearm known as a Mauser Model 98 30-06 bolt‑action rifle, a pattern originally manufactured in Germany for military use during World Wars. The weapon may predate the 1968 firearms serial‑numbering requirements enacted after President John F. Kennedy's assassination. The rifle is said to have belonged to the grandfather of Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah man charged in the case. Police allege Robinson deliberately selected the rifle because it would be harder to trace, a theory reinforced by a note reportedly sent to a roommate hours after the shooting.
DNA testing on the murder weapon has been described by officials as consistent with Robinson, a finding prosecutors say supports the theory that he handled the rifle in the killing. Court documents indicate investigators believe the suspect deliberately chose the rifle because it is difficult to trace. A message reportedly left by Robinson to a roommate hours after the assassination referenced the rifle and its potential traceability, according to authorities. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI in Salt Lake City did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Experts note that vintage firearms such as Mauser rifles are rarely used in crimes; most gun violence in the United States involves pistols, though AR-15‑style rifles have appeared in some mass shootings. Mauser rifles and similar bolt‑action patterns proliferated after World War II as veterans returned home, and many were sold through mail order or private sales in the mid‑20th century, which can complicate traceability in investigations.
Charlie Kirk is a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA. The shooting occurred near Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, a case that has drawn national attention as authorities continue to piece together how the weapon was obtained and used. As the investigation unfolds, prosecutors have not disclosed additional charges or evidence beyond the weapon itself, and federal and local agencies emphasize that the inquiry remains active and ongoing.
