A suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the murder of U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump announced. Trump said he has a “high degree of certainty” that the unidentified individual is the shooter. He added that he learned of the arrest minutes before going on air and that the suspect was turned in by someone close to them.
The FBI previously released images of the alleged suspect—a man wearing sunglasses, a black hat, and a long‑sleeve black shirt featuring an American flag—and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to identification and arrest. Authorities have received more than 7,000 tips and leads and have conducted around 200 interviews related to the case. Investigators also recovered a “high‑powered, bolt‑action rifle” along the route the suspect allegedly used to flee the crime scene.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while addressing thousands of students at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. He was struck by a single rifle round and later died at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Officials have described the killing as a targeted political assassination. The suspect, reportedly a 22‑year‑old Utah resident, was turned in to police by a family member who recognized the released photos.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that the state will seek the death penalty for Kirk’s assassin. President Trump vowed to pursue not only Kirk’s killer but also the “radical left” networks that he says fuel political violence, expressing hope that the murderer will face capital punishment.
The investigation into Kirk’s murder remains ongoing, with the FBI and local authorities continuing to gather information and build a case against the suspect. The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for action against political violence, and further details about the suspect and the circumstances of the shooting are expected to emerge as the inquiry proceeds.
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