Washington: A suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university has been taken into custody, US President Donald Trump says.
“I think we have him,” Trump told Fox News in a live interview on Friday morning, US time, adding that a person who knew the suspect turned him in. “I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody.”
Charlier KIrk on stage at Utah Valley University just before the shooting.Credit: AP
Trump did not share the suspect’s identity. Authorities have reportedly scheduled a press conference within the next hour.
Kirk’s killer had eluded police and federal agents for more than 24 hours after Wednesday’s shooting, in which a sniper fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk, 31, during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem.
On Thursday night, the FBI was still releasing new images and video of the suspect and appealing to the public for help.
“We worked with the local police, the governor. Everybody did a great job,” Trump told Fox. “We started off with a clip that made him look like an ant, it was almost useless. It’s amazing when you start off with that, and you get lucky – or talent, or whatever it is.”
Trump said he hoped the assassin got the death penalty.
More to come
with Reuters