US President Donald Trump on Friday disclosed that the suspect had been taken into custody over the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk after a massive manhunt.
“Somebody very close to him turned him in,” Trump told Fox News in a live studio interview.
“The person was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a US Marshal who was fantastic.
“They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now.”
He added, “We have the person that we think is the person we’re looking for.”
The gunman fatally shot Kirk, a 31-year-old Trump supporter, during his appearance at a Utah university on Wednesday.
The search involved hundreds of law enforcement agents from 20 agencies.
Images released on Thursday showed a man wearing Converse shoes, a black baseball cap, dark sunglasses, and what seemed to be jeans, as well as a long-sleeved blouse with an American flag motif.
Police suspect the shooter fired from a rooftop up to 200 yards (180 meters) away, striking Kirk in the neck.
A figure was seen rushing across a roof at the institution before falling to the ground and making his way off campus towards nearby trees, which appeared to be where a high-powered bolt-action rifle was recovered.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that his state would pursue the death penalty in the case.
Kirk’s casket was flown to his hometown of Phoenix on Vice President JD Vance’s official plane, highlighting the extremely political nature of the death.
Vance was seen with his hands on the casket as it was transported to Air Force 2.
On Thursday, students at Utah Valley University expressed their shock and broader concerns as political tensions develop across the country.
Dave Sanchez told AFP that witnessing the killing made him feel “sick to my stomach.”
“We watch him all the time, and so it really does feel like one of your own family members, your own brother, has been killed,” said Sanchez, 26.
On Thursday evening, several hundred individuals wearing red MAGA caps and brandishing American flags gathered in Orem Park for a vigil that included prayer and a moment of silence.
“It still feels insane that this happened,” Jonathan Silva, 35, told AFP. “It’s totally surreal.”
Kirk, whom admirers have lauded as a “martyr,” co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to promote conservative views among young people, and his natural showmanship has made him a popular spokesman on television networks.
The father-of-two utilized his TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube audiences to rally support for anti-immigrant legislation, outspoken Christianity, and gun ownership, as well as to share meticulously edited videos of his encounters during debates at his numerous college appearances.
The US right-wing media was in a state of grief and anger, with contributors remembering Kirk’s impact on their lives, but Trump has asked fans to respond peacefully.
