Suspect in Charlie Kirk Murder in Custody, Trump Claims

In a major and unconfirmed development in the ongoing investigation into the killing of activist Charlie Kirk, United States President Donald Trump has announced that a suspect is in custody. Speaking in a live interview on Fox News, the President described the information as preliminary, but stated “with a high degree of certainty, we have him.” Trump’s comments mark a significant claim in a high-profile case, but have yet to be officially verified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or other law enforcement agencies.

According to the President, the person believed to be responsible was turned in to authorities by a minister who is also a member of law enforcement. This came after officials had intensified a public manhunt, releasing video and photo images of a person seen on a nearby rooftop during the shooting. Authorities had recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and pleaded with the public for help. An official speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity later identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah.

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and close ally of President Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The incident has drawn swift and bipartisan condemnation from politicians across the country, highlighting the charged atmosphere of political discourse. However, it has also become a flashpoint for disinformation, with some on the far-right already describing the killing as “an act of war from the left” and officials like Utah Governor Spencer Cox urging the public to ignore “bots from Russia, China, all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation.” This isn’t the first instance of confusion in the investigation; earlier in the week, the FBI had to walk back an initial social media post about a person being in custody after they were later released.

This latest announcement from the President places a new layer of complexity on the ongoing investigation. While a public news conference in Utah was planned, the official silence from the FBI and the Justice Department leaves Trump’s claim unconfirmed. As federal investigators continue to analyze evidence including a recovered rifle, an imprint, and a palm print, the public remains divided between the President’s confident assertion and the official, methodical pace of the investigation.