US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that officials apprehended the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump told Fox viewers he learned about the arrest minutes before joining the broadcast and expressed strong confidence in custody.
A person close to the alleged shooter revealed the suspect’s location, which led authorities to act swiftly.
Surveillance Footage and Evidence Surface
FBI and Utah police released video Thursday showing the suspect fleeing after Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University.
The footage captured the suspect in sunglasses, a black shirt with an eagle, and Converse shoes escaping across rooftops.
Police later found a high-powered rifle in nearby woods, linking it to the killing of the 31-year-old activist.
Officials also collected shoe prints, palm marks, forearm impressions, fingerprints, and DNA from the escape route.
Public Tips and Political Response
Utah Commissioner Beau Mason said over 7,000 public tips have guided investigators, surpassing totals since the Boston Marathon bombing.
The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Kirk’s murder.
Governor Spencer Cox vowed to pursue the death penalty against the suspect once prosecutors present the case.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the killing, while Trump said the nation faces grave danger from rising political violence.
Kirk’s assassination during his “American Comeback Tour” speech sparked grief and calls for action against political extremism.
