U.S. President Donald Trump says authorities have captured the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling it a major breakthrough in the two-day manhunt.
“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced during a live Fox News interview Friday morning, saying a minister who knew the suspect helped turn him in. The FBI and Justice Department have not yet confirmed the arrest but are expected to provide updates at a news conference later today in Utah, where the shooting took place.
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot once in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday in what police called a targeted attack. He was rushed to hospital but later died, sparking widespread shock and bipartisan condemnation.
Investigators had released photos and video of the person believed responsible, describing him as appearing college-aged and saying he fled into nearby woods after the shooting. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle was recovered at the scene. Officials say more than 7,000 tips poured in as the search intensified.
Trump, who called the shooting a political assassination, said Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. Vice-President JD Vance and his wife visited Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City on Thursday, with Vance crediting Kirk’s organizing skills for helping shape the administration’s success.
Kirk’s casket was flown on Air Force Two to Phoenix, where Turning Point USA is based. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, but Trump confirmed he plans to attend.
The attack has reignited debate about political violence in the U.S. and campus safety. Kirk was taking questions about gun violence during a debate stop on his “American Comeback Tour” when the shooting occurred. Students and attendees scrambled for safety, barricading themselves in classrooms as police locked down the campus.