The suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination has been arrested. US President Donald Trump made the announcement on Friday while representing a breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States of America. “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump said in an interview with a media outlet.
As the US president mentioned, a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in to authorities. Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who was killed in a single shot, which made the police authorities believe that it was a targeted killing. He was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.
“Somebody that was very close to him said, Hmm, that's him,'” Trump added.
A 22-year-old guy, Tyler Robinson, from Utah, is the suspect behind Kirk’s killing, according to the media reports. The suspect is currently being held in custody. Though no official statement or confirmation has yet been made by the FBI and the Justice Department.
As cited by the authorities, they recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and hours later was pronounced dead.
“He wanted to help young people, and he didn't deserve this. He was really a good person”, said the United States President.
Videos and pictures of the suspect were released by the federal investigators on Thursday. Over 7,000 leads and tips had poured in. Authorities have yet to publicly name the suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the US.
The incident —
The videos of the incident are also making rounds on social media. In the videos, Kirk can be seen speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a college-age appearance, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed the person then walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.
“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent.
Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the US.
Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk's family on Thursday in Salt Lake City. Vance wrote in a social media post, “So much of the success we've had in this administration traces directly to Charlie's ability to organize and convene. He didn't just help us win in 2024; he helped us staff the entire government.”
Donald Trump may also attend Kirk's funeral.
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