Police captured the suspected gunman who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, President Donald Trump confirmed Friday.
Trump told Fox News he learned about the arrest minutes before his appearance, saying officials held the suspect in custody.
A source close to the alleged shooter disclosed the suspect’s location, which led authorities to make the arrest.
Public Tips Drive Investigation
FBI and Utah police released video Thursday showing a suspect fleeing after Kirk’s assassination on a college campus.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said public tips provided crucial leads in the manhunt for the shooter.
The footage shows a person in sunglasses, Converse shoes, and a black flag-printed shirt running across a roof.
The suspect jumped from the building, crossed a busy street, and entered a wooded area where police recovered a high-powered rifle.
Authorities released additional images of the suspect carrying a backpack and climbing down a stairwell.
Evidence and Forensics Support Case
Investigators collected a rifle, shoe prints, forearm and palm imprints, fingerprints, and DNA from the building’s edge.
Police noted the suspect appeared to be of college age and blended easily into the campus.
Law enforcement explored leads both inside Utah and across state lines to confirm the suspect’s location.
Officials received over 7,000 tips, the largest since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, prompting a $100,000 reward.
National Response and Justice Pledge
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed prosecutors would seek the death penalty once courts convict the suspect.
Kirk died in broad daylight while answering a question on gun violence during his Utah Valley University event.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the assassination and highlighted the growing threat of political violence in the US.
Trump expressed grief, voiced concern for the country, and promised justice following the killing of Kirk.
