Police arrested the gunman who shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, President Donald Trump confirmed Friday.
Trump told Fox News he learned about the arrest minutes before the broadcast, confirming officials held the suspect.
A source close to the alleged shooter disclosed the suspect’s location, prompting authorities to act quickly.
Public Tips Guide Investigation
FBI and Utah police released video Thursday showing the suspect fleeing after shooting Kirk on campus.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said public tips are producing crucial leads in the ongoing manhunt.
The footage shows the suspect in sunglasses, Converse shoes, and a black American flag shirt running across a roof.
The suspect jumped from the building, crossed a busy street, and entered a wooded area.
Police later recovered a high-powered rifle they believe Kirk’s killer used.
Officials shared additional images showing the suspect wearing a backpack and descending stairwells.
Evidence Builds Case
Investigators collected a rifle, forearm and palm prints, shoe imprints, DNA, and fingerprints from the scene.
Law enforcement reported uncertainty whether the suspect remained in Utah or fled out of state.
Authorities received over 7,000 tips, the highest since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
The FBI offered $100,000 for information leading to the shooter’s identification or capture.
National Response
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed prosecutors will seek the death penalty once courts convict the suspect.
Kirk died in broad daylight answering a question on gun violence during his Utah Valley University event.
Republican and Democrat lawmakers condemned the assassination, highlighting rising political violence across the United States.
Trump expressed grief, pledged justice, and warned Americans about the country’s ongoing safety challenges.
