Police apprehended 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 interview, adding, “We have him in custody.”
Officials said someone close to the alleged shooter provided key information on their location.
New Footage and Evidence Surface
FBI and Utah police released video Thursday showing a suspect fleeing after Kirk’s daylight assassination on campus.
The footage displayed an individual in sunglasses, Converse shoes, and a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag.
The suspect leapt from a roof, crossed a street, and entered woods where police found a high-powered rifle.
Authorities also gathered palm, forearm, shoe imprints, fingerprints, and DNA at the site of the escape.
Massive Manhunt and Political Fallout
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said over 7,000 public tips directed investigators, the most since Boston’s 2013 bombing.
Police admitted uncertainty over whether the suspect remained in Utah or fled elsewhere in the country.
The FBI offered $100,000 for information leading to the suspect’s identification and capture.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed prosecutors would pursue the death penalty against the killer.
Kirk’s assassination, carried out during a college event, reignited debate over political violence across the United States.
Republican and Democrat lawmakers alike condemned the killing, while Trump expressed grief and promised accountability.
