The rifle allegedly found by the FBI stashed in nearby woods at Utah Valley University wrapped in a dark towel is a Mauser 98 action, chambered in 30-06 Springfield, an American military round developed in 1906 and is a .30 calibre. It appears to be in poor condition and has an unusual, perhaps rusty trigger guard.
The forward dovetail telescopic sight mount has almost slipped off the receiver indicating the scope mounts are loose, making it impossible for an accurate shot even at close range.
This round is quite capable of killing at more than 500 yards but the rifle above is in poor shape, and has a poorly fitted, apparent variable-powered telescopic sight which is mounted too far back to enable a shooter to fire accurate shot.
In fact anyone firing this rifle would suffer a damaged eye from the scope due to its 2,670 ft-lbs muzzle energy and heavy recoil. The shooter would have a black eye without any doubt. It is also very doubtful this rifle in its published state would be capable of accurately hitting any target at any range.
The question remains. Did Tyler Robinson the alleged shooter have a black eye when caught?
Mug shots released by the FBI do not show Robinson with a black eye.
Another explanation for the scope being set too far back is that in dropping the rifle from the rooftop when escaping from the sniper’s position, the impact, if the rifle hit the ground butt first, could have forced the scope mounts to slip backwards, however either way it indicates the scope has loose mounts which does not allow for accurate shooting especially over 200 yards, the distance stated for the Kirk shot.
Partner of Robinson
Robinson apparently was living with a male partner who is allegedly in the process of “transitioning” to being a female and who is currently “cooperating” with investigators, sources familiar with the investigation told Just the News on Saturday.
Investigators said on Friday that they were receiving cooperation from Robinson’s roommate. Two sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry have told Just the News that Robinson lives with a male partner who identifies as transgender. The sources did not provide the name of Robinson’s partner, and said that the partner is currently sharing information with investigators.
Tyler Robinson
It was not immediately clear if Robinson’s alleged transgender partner is the same person as the roommate who was publicly discussed by investigators.
Despite his growing up in a very active Mormon community, so much so that neighbors were shocked when they learned of his arrest, the young man, with no criminal record, loved guns since childhood, as confirmed by his father, who never discouraged him from pursuing this passion.
“On the evening of September 11th,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox reconstructed, “a family member of Tyler Robinson contacted a family friend, who in turn contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, informing them that the boy had confessed or implied that he was the one who committed the incident.”
According to a law enforcement official, Robinson’s father identified his son using photos released by the FBI. At that point, the father allegedly ordered his son to turn himself in. The murder suspect’s father also called a youth pastor to assist him.
Investigators, the Utah governor added, discovered a rifle wrapped in a towel and engraved inscriptions on the shell casings found with the rifle. “Some inscriptions on the three unfired shell casings read ‘Hey, fascist! Get it!’” Cox said.
Tyler Robinson was not a student at Utah Valley University; “he lived, and had long lived, with his family in Washington County,” the governor said.
None of the shell casings recovered with the weapon that authorities believe was used to kill MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk appear to be engraved with phrases or symbols related to transgender people. CNN reports this, denying initial reports. Officials speaking at today’s press conference did not directly address the issue of any references to transgender people, but none of the writing they described appears to be connected to that community. The unfired shell casings bore phrases such as “Hey, fascist! Take this!” and “If you’re reading this, you’re gay. LMAO,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. The title of the anti-fascist song “Bella Ciao” was also mentioned.
A preliminary report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) indicated that agents had found engravings they interpreted as “expressions of transgender and anti-fascist ideology” on the ammunition inside the recovered rifle. Two law enforcement sources told CNN that analysts initially interpreted one of the carvings—which featured a series of arrows—as a possible reference to the transgender community. However, the inscription “up arrow, right arrow, and three down arrows” has no obvious connection to transgender people.
Robinson is being held in a Utah jail on several charges and is expected to be formally charged on Tuesday with Charlie Kirk’s murder.
