Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah Campus, Suspect in Custody After 24-Hour Manhunt

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University earlier this week. Trump described the attack as a “heinous murder” and said the massive manhunt had now ended.

The gunman, who evaded police and federal agents for more than 24 hours, allegedly fired a single sniper shot on Wednesday evening during an event at the university in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. The bullet struck Kirk, 31, in the neck while he was addressing nearly 3,000 people, killing him instantly.

Manhunt and Arrest

Trump, speaking in an interview with Fox News, said people close to the suspect had identified him and that his father encouraged him to surrender. “I think we have him,” Trump remarked, without revealing the suspect’s identity.

The FBI had earlier released grainy surveillance images showing a man in a black top, dark glasses, and a baseball cap emblazoned with an American flag and eagle. Investigators also recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the killing.

According to FBI Special Agent Robert Bowles, security footage showed the suspect climbing a ladder to the roof moments before the shooting. He then fired the shot, leapt down, and fled into a nearby neighborhood.

Investigation Underway

Investigators said the rifle was found abandoned in nearby woods and is being examined for fingerprints and other evidence. Classes at Utah Valley University were suspended on Thursday as police cordoned off the roof and surrounding areas in search of clues.

Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the shooter appeared to be of college age and was “well-connected” on campus.

National Shock and Condemnation

Kirk, co-founder and president of conservative student group Turning Point USA, was touring universities as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” His assassination has drawn widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as foreign governments, with leaders denouncing the killing as an act of political violence.

President Trump also announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Kirk, a married father of two, was celebrated by Republicans as a charismatic advocate for right-wing policies on issues such as race, gender, immigration, religion, and gun rights. Known for engaging directly with critics, he often invited opponents to challenge him during his speeches.