U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed the arrest of the man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, after a massive nationwide manhunt.
Trump made the announcement during a live interview on Fox News on Friday morning, revealing that the suspect was turned in by someone close to him.
“Somebody very close to him turned him in,” Trump said. “The person was a minister, a person of faith, and brought him directly to a U.S. Marshal who was fantastic. They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now. We have the person that we think is the person we’re looking for.”
Suspect Identified as Tyler Robinson
Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Officials said Robinson is now in custody and being interrogated.
Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking to a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate at Utah Valley University. The event, known for encouraging students to challenge Kirk’s political and cultural views, turned tragic after gunfire erupted.
Evidence and Manhunt Details
Authorities released video footage late Thursday showing the suspect climbing down from a roof shortly after the shooting. Earlier, police had circulated images of a “person of interest” and appealed to the public for help in identifying him.
Investigators have confirmed they recovered the firearm used in the shooting, and officials say there is “good video footage” tying Robinson to the crime.
The search for the suspect involved hundreds of agents across 20 law enforcement agencies, making it one of the largest coordinated manhunts in recent years.
National Reaction
Kirk’s death has sent shockwaves through the U.S. political landscape, as he was a prominent figure in conservative circles and a frequent media commentator. His organisation, Turning Point USA, has not yet released an official statement but is expected to do so in the coming days.
