A suspect within the deadly capturing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college has been taken into custody, US President Donald Trump stated on Friday, ending an intense manhunt that adopted what Trump described as a “heinous assassination.”
Kirk’s killer had eluded police and federal brokers for greater than 24 hours after Wednesday’s capturing, wherein a sniper fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk, 31, throughout an look at Utah Valley College in Orem.
“I feel now we have him,” Trump instructed the “Fox and Pals” present in an interview, including that an individual who is aware of the suspect had turned him in. “I feel with a excessive diploma of certainty now we have him in custody.”
Trump didn’t share the suspect’s id, however he was named as Tyler Robinson, 22, a Utah resident, by a legislation enforcement official talking to The Related Press, who was not licensed to debate the continued investigation and spoke on the situation of anonymity.
Investigators had been attributable to transient journalists afterward Friday.
The suspect was within the custody of Utah state legislation enforcement, an individual conversant in the investigation stated, asking for anonymity.
Tyler Robinson 22 of Utah is in custody for homicide of Charlie Kirk pic.twitter.com/OBbKFOfHQs
— John Schatz (@Eddyvnhln5150) September 12, 2025
FOX NEWS ALERT: @POTUS says “with a excessive diploma of certainty” that authorities have Charlie Kirk’s murderer in custody. pic.twitter.com/pXAwik0a0Z
— FOX & Pals (@foxandfriends) September 12, 2025
Beforehand, US investigators stated they’d discovered the bolt-action rifle believed to have been used to kill Kirk and launched photos of an individual of curiosity.
The FBI had circulated grainy photos apparently taken from safety cameras displaying an individual carrying a black high, black sun shades, and a darkish baseball cap. The long-sleeved high seems to have been emblazoned with a picture of a bald eagle flying throughout a US flag.
Regulation enforcement officers additionally launched video of the shooter operating throughout the roof and decreasing himself onto the bottom.
“Someone this shut acknowledges even somewhat tilt of the pinnacle, which no one else would do,” Trump stated within the interview.
This undated mixture of photos offered by the FBI reveals an individual of curiosity in reference to the deadly capturing of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley College on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (Federal Bureau of Investigation through AP)
Kirk, an creator, podcast host, and shut ally of Trump, helped construct the Republican Get together’s help amongst youthful voters.
Trump stated the suspect was acknowledged by folks near him, and urged the suspect’s father drove him to a police station and handed him over.
FBI and state officers stated the killer arrived on the campus a couple of minutes earlier than the beginning of the occasion, a debate led by Kirk titled “Show Me Improper” in entrance of three,000 folks at Utah Valley, about 40 miles (65 km) south of Salt Lake Metropolis.
Safety-camera movies confirmed an individual going up stairwells to achieve entry to a roof earlier than firing at Kirk, the officers stated. Kirk, a staunch defender of gun rights, was answering an viewers query about mass shootings when the bullet struck his neck. Viewers members fled in panic.
Regulation enforcement tapes off an space after Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Level USA, was shot lifeless at Utah Valley College, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (Tess Croewley/The Deseret Information through AP)
After the capturing, investigators discovered a “high-powered, bolt-action” rifle in a close-by wooded space, and had been analyzing that together with palm prints and footprints for clues.
The shooter gave the impression to be of faculty age and “blended in effectively” on the campus, Utah Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason stated on the Thursday briefing.
Kirk was the co-founder and president of the conservative pupil group Turning Level USA and appeared at Utah Valley on Wednesday as a part of a deliberate 15-event “American Comeback Tour” of US faculty campuses. His killing stirred outrage and denunciations of political violence from Democrats, Republicans, and overseas governments.
Dying penalty?
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated his state would pursue the loss of life penalty within the case.
Reflecting the extremely political nature of the killing, Kirk’s coffin was transported to his house metropolis of Phoenix on Vice President JD Vance’s official airplane.
Footage confirmed Vance along with his palms on the casket because it was carried to Air Drive 2.
College students at Utah Valley College on Thursday described their shock and their broader fears as political divisions deepen throughout the nation.
Dave Sanchez instructed AFP that witnessing the killing made him “sick to my abdomen.”
“We watch him on a regular basis, and so it actually does really feel like one in all your personal members of the family, your personal brother’s been killed,” stated Sanchez, 26.
A younger lady cries throughout a candlelight vigil for youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk at a makeshift memorial at Orem Metropolis Heart Park in Orem, Utah, a day after he was shot, on September 11, 2025. (Melissa MAJCHRZAK / AFP)
In Orem Park, a number of hundred folks carrying purple MAGA caps and holding American flags attended a vigil on Thursday night, the place they prayed and held a second of silence.
“It nonetheless feels insane that this occurred,” Jonathan Silva, 35, instructed AFP. “It’s completely surreal.”
Trump stated he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Kirk, who was married and the daddy of two younger kids, was celebrated by Republicans as a charismatic advocate for right-wing insurance policies on race, gender, immigration, faith, and gun regulation.
He steadily engaged along with his critics from the far left to the far proper, typically inviting members of his audiences to debate him stay.
