Police arrested 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 appearance, saying officials held the suspect in custody.
A source close to the alleged shooter revealed the suspect’s location, helping authorities make the capture.
FBI and Police Release Footage
FBI and Utah police released video Thursday showing a suspect fleeing the scene after Kirk’s assassination.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said public tips provided critical leads for the ongoing manhunt.
The footage shows a suspect wearing sunglasses, Converse shoes, and a black American-flag shirt running across a roof.
The suspect climbed off the building edge, dropped to the ground, and crossed a busy street into a wooded area.
Police recovered a high-powered rifle in the woods, which they believe Kirk’s killer used.
Officials released additional images showing the suspect carrying a backpack and climbing down a stairwell.
Evidence Supports Investigation
Investigators collected rifle, shoe prints, forearm and palm imprints, fingerprints, and DNA from the building edge.
Police have received more than 7,000 tips, the highest number since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest.
Mason admitted authorities initially did not know if the suspect remained in Utah or fled out of state.
Public and Political Reaction
Utah Governor Spencer Cox promised prosecutors would seek the death penalty once courts convict the suspect.
Kirk died in daylight while answering a question about gun violence during his Utah Valley University event.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the assassination and highlighted rising threats of political violence in the US.
Trump expressed grief, pledged justice, and said he worried for America following the attack.
