Police arrested the suspected gunman who shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump confirmed Friday.
Trump told Fox News he learned about the arrest minutes before his live appearance, saying authorities held the suspect securely.
A source close to the alleged shooter revealed the suspect’s location, helping law enforcement complete the arrest.
FBI and Police Release Footage
FBI and Utah police released video showing the suspect fleeing after the shooting, prompting more public tips.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said public tips provided crucial leads in the manhunt.
The video shows a suspect wearing sunglasses, Converse shoes, and a black American-flag shirt running across a roof.
The suspect jumped to the ground, crossed a busy street, and entered a wooded area where police recovered a high-powered rifle.
Authorities also released photos showing the suspect carrying a backpack and descending a stairwell.
Evidence and Investigation Details
Investigators collected a rifle, shoe prints, forearm and palm imprints, fingerprints, and DNA from the jump site.
Police said the suspect blended into the campus and appeared to be of college age.
Mason admitted officials did not initially know whether the suspect remained in Utah or fled out of state.
Authorities received over 7,000 tips, the largest number since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the identification or arrest of the shooter.
Political Reaction and Legal Action
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed prosecutors would seek the death penalty once courts convict the suspect.
Kirk died in broad daylight while answering a question about gun violence at a campus event titled “The American Comeback Tour.”
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the assassination, warning about growing political violence across the United States.
Trump expressed grief, pledged justice, and voiced concern for the country following Kirk’s killing.
