The suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been taken into custody, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced Friday.
According to authorities cited by CNN, the suspect is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah.
“We got him,” Cox said at a news conference. “On the evening of September 11, a member of Robinson’s family reached out to a family friend, who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to report that Robinson had confessed to them, or implied that he had committed the incident,” he added, according to Reuters.
A law enforcement source told CNN that Robinson’s father recognized him from photos released to the public during the investigation. He instructed his son to turn himself in and contacted a youth pastor for assistance. The pastor then alerted the U.S. Marshals, who carried out the arrest.
Police officials confirmed that the identification from publicly released photos was a key step. The arrest is also supported by material evidence and witness statements gathered since the shooting.
The Shooting
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was shot while attending an event at Utah Valley University. Governor Cox described the attack as a “political assassination.”
Authorities said the weapon used was a high-caliber bolt-action rifle found near the scene.
Earlier, President Donald Trump stated that he believed “with a high degree of certainty” that the suspect had been apprehended. Four sources familiar with the investigation also told CNN that an individual was being questioned in connection with the shooting.
Kirk’s death sparked strong political reactions nationwide. President Trump called the killing a “political assassination” and announced he was considering awarding Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, according to AP News.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the violence and called for a thorough investigation.
The FBI and Utah authorities are leading the investigation. Officials confirmed that the suspected weapon was recovered and that ballistic and DNA analyses are underway, according to People.com.
Local and federal law enforcement, including the U.S. Marshals, were involved in Robinson’s arrest.
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Source: CNN
