President Trump on Friday morning said he believes the FBI has a suspect in custody in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“I think with a high degree of certainty we have him,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. “I think we’re in great shape and he’s in custody.”
The FBI and Utah officials have not formally announced an arrest. However, authorities are expected to hold a press conference at 9 a.m. ET.
Authorities have spent days searching for a suspect in the death of Kirk, a popular conservative commentator and Trump ally who was fatally shot while he was speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday pleaded with the public for help in finding the shooter. He said that law enforcement had received more than 7,000 tips, but pleaded for more of their assistance.
The FBI released new surveillance video Thursday night of the suspected shooter fleeing the scene. Six images of the same suspect had been shared earlier in the day. They described the gunman as a “college age” male who “blended in well” with students at the Utah Valley University event. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person.
The hunt for Kirk’s killer took several twists and turns in the hours following the shooting. Initially, the university said a suspect was in custody, but that person was let go after being charged with obstruction of justice. Later on Wednesday, officials said a second suspect was taken into custody, but that person was also released.
A high-powered bolt-action rifle was recovered from a nearby wooded area, authorities said. They believe this is the weapon that was used in the “targeted” shooting that left Kirk dead.
Kirk, 31, was addressing the open-air crowd with some 3,000 people when a single shot rang out, striking the Turning Point USA cofounder in the neck. Within hours, Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social. Trump on Thursday said he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Kirk’s body was transported to Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family, on Air Force Two on Thursday afternoon. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both said they plan to attend Kirk’s funeral, which is expected to be held next weekend.
Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
