Trump says ‘with a high degree of certainty’ suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been caught

President Donald Trump on Friday said that the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been capturedldquoWith a high degree of certainty we have himrdquo Trump said during a live interview on Fox News Channel on Friday morning He added that a minister who is also involved with law enforcement turned in the suspect to authorities ldquoSomebody that was very close to him said lsquoHmm thatrsquos himrsquordquo Trump said according to news agency APKirk the cofounder of political nonprofit Turning Point USA and a close ally of Trump was fatally shot on Wednesday in what police have described as a targeted attack Utahrsquos Governor called it a political assassination Authorities recovered a highpowered boltaction rifle near the scene and said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into nearby woods after murdering KirkThe conservative political activist was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University in Orem when the attack occurred He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead hours laterFederal investigators and state officials had released photos and video of the suspect on Thursday More than 7000 tips and leads had poured in authorities said according to AP The suspectrsquos identity and motive have not yet been made publicGrisly video spreads onlineThe attack carried out in broad daylight was captured on video and shared widely on social media The footage shows Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when a single shot rings out Kirk raises his right hand as blood pours from the left side of his neck and stunned spectators scream and fleeAuthorities said the shooter blended into the crowd amid students A video released on Thursday shows the suspect walking across the grass and street before disappearing ldquoI can tell you this was a targeted eventrdquo said Robert Bohls the top Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI agent in Salt Lake CityTrump who was joined by Democrats in condemning the attack said he plans to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom the highest civilian honour in the USVice President JD Vance and his wife Usha visited Kirkrsquos family in Salt Lake City on Thursday Vance posted a remembrance post on X highlighting his friendship with Kirk since 2017 and through his Senate run and the 2024 electionldquoSo much of the success wersquove had in this administration traces directly to Charliersquos ability to organise and convenerdquo Vance wrote adding He didnrsquot just help us win in 2024 he helped us staff the entire governmentrdquoKirkrsquos casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix where Turning Point USA is based President Trump told reporters he plans to attend the funeral though details have not been announcedKirk took questions on gun violence before shootingKirk was known to be a conservative provocateur and influential organiser among young Republicans He frequently engaged in debates on college campuses The shooting occurred immediately after he was taking questions from an audience member on gun violenceThe debate at the Sorensen Centre on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirkrsquos lsquoAmerican Comeback Tourrsquo The event drew polarising reactions on campus with an online petition urging the university to bar Kirk gathering nearly 1000 signatures The university reaffirmed its commitment to free speech intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogueSome attendees who bolted after the gunshot barricaded themselves in classrooms They used tables to block doors crouched in corners for safety and even tied an electric pencil sharpener to a chair leg to reinforce the barricadeNearby resident Kathleen Murphy said ldquoWith the shooter not being caught yet it was a worryrdquoThe attack drew swift bipartisan condemnation with Democratic officials joining Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in denouncing the shooting which comes amid a rise in political violence across the US affecting figures across ideologies and partiesWith AP inputs