President Donald Trump announced Friday that the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is in custody, a claim that comes after days of confusion and conflicting reports.
“I think, with a high degree of certainty, we HAVE HIM, in custody,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox News. He suggested that the suspect was turned in by someone close to him, though he offered no further details.
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at a “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Witnesses said he was seated under a tent when a single shot struck him in the neck. Authorities believe the shooter fired from an elevated position, likely a rooftop several hundred feet away. A high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to be the weapon was later found nearby.
The days following the shooting were marked by confusion. FBI Director Kash Patel announced shortly after the incident that a suspect was already in custody, but state and local officials quickly contradicted him, insisting the shooter remained at large. Two individuals were detained during the early stages of the investigation, but both were released after questioning when investigators determined they were not responsible.
Trump’s statement Friday is the first definitive claim by a national leader that the gunman is behind bars, though law enforcement agencies have not yet confirmed the arrest or released the suspect’s identity. Authorities have circulated images and video of a person of interest and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
