President Donald Trump announced Friday that the suspected shooter in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is in custody.
“I believe, with a high degree of certainty, that we have him in custody,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News. “I think we’re in great shape. He’s in custody.”
According to Trump, a person close to the suspect came forward and alerted authorities. “Essentially, somebody very close to him turned him in,” he said.
Trump’s remarks came less than an hour before a scheduled news conference by law enforcement officials regarding the manhunt for the gunman who fatally shot Kirk on Wednesday during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University.
Ahead of the briefing, three senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that a family member identified the suspect after recognizing him in photos released by the FBI.
The president said he was informed of the arrest just minutes before going on air and acknowledged that some details could still change.
“But the facts are the facts,” Trump said. “We have the person we believe is responsible. He drove himself to the police station, and he’s there now.”
Trump concluded: “I hope he gets the death penalty.”
On Thursday, the FBI released grainy surveillance images and video showing a person of interest fleeing the scene after allegedly jumping from the rooftop where the shot was fired. However, authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name or formally announced an arrest.
