President Credits “Talent” and Public Tips, States Individual Was Turned In by Someone “Very Close” to Them
The manhunt for the assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has culminated in an arrest, President Donald Trump announced Friday morning on “Fox and Friends,” stating that the suspect is now in custody. The news marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation that has gripped the nation since Kirk’s murder on Wednesday.
Speaking with the show’s hosts, President Trump stated, “We have him… I think we’re in great shape. That’s the person, he’s in custody.” He commended the collaborative efforts of local police, the governor, and other law enforcement agencies for their work in the high-stakes case.
According to the president, the breakthrough came after someone “very close to him” recognized the suspect from the new video and photos released by the FBI and Utah officials and turned him in. “Somebody close to him turned him in,” Trump said. “This happens a lot. It happened with the crazy Boston bomber… Somebody that knows recognizes even a little tilt of the head, which nobody else would do.”
READ: University Of Michigan Professor: Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Is A ‘Solution’ To ‘Violent Rhetoric’
The president described how a U.S. Marshal and a minister—a “person of Faith”—were involved in convincing the suspect’s father to cooperate with law enforcement, which ultimately led to the arrest.
The announcement brings a swift end to an intense, multi-day manhunt that began after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities had released clearer images and video of the suspect on Thursday evening and revealed they had received over 7,000 tips from the public, a number not seen by the FBI since the Boston Marathon bombing.
While President Trump did not reveal the suspect’s name or a clear motive, he had previously stated his suspicion that the killer was from the “radical left.” He said the name of the suspect and other details would likely be released later in the day.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Utah officials and top federal agents revealed new and enhanced video and still images of the suspect on Thursday, in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, providing the clearest look yet at the person responsible.
The briefing, which had been postponed earlier in the day due to “rapid developments,” featured a lineup of high-ranking officials, including Governor Spencer Cox, FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason.
Governor Cox initiated the conference by directly addressing the public and media, emphasizing the crucial role of community partnership in capturing the assassin. “We are going to share a portion of a video… as well as some new stills,” he said. “We want to make sure the video as much attention as possible so that we can get help from the public in tracking down this… evil human being.”
READ: Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar Condemns Praise For Late Charlie Kirk, Calling It ‘F-ed Up’
Commissioner Mason narrated the video footage, which appears to show the suspect’s movements immediately after the shooting. The video shows the individual climbing down the side of a building and dropping to the ground. Mason noted that investigators have collected significant evidence from this point, including “palm impressions,” “smudges,” and a distinctive shoe print.
The new still images, which have been enhanced, provide critical details for the public. They show the suspect wearing a black t-shirt with a distinctive American flag and eagle design, a baseball cap with a triangle logo, and Converse tennis shoes with white soles. The images also show the suspect in black pants.
Governor Cox confirmed that the public’s response has been overwhelming, with more than 7,000 tips and leads received so far. He noted that the volume of digital media tips is the highest the FBI has seen since the Boston Marathon bombing. “The public has answered our call for action,” Cox stated.
Authorities continue to implore the public to submit any videos or photos they may have to the FBI’s digital media tip line at www.fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting. General tips can also be provided by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
The governor concluded the conference by urging the public to be cautious of disinformation circulating online, which he said is being spread by “adversaries… who are trying to instill this information and encourage violence.” He stressed the need for a national healing process, which he said begins with finding and holding the perpetrator accountable. “We are going to catch this person,” he affirmed.
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