U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that a suspect in the fatal shooting of Islamophobic activist Charlie Kirk has been taken into custody, describing the breakthrough as a major step toward justice in what he called a "heinous political assassination."

"I think we have him," Trump stated during a White House briefing, crediting a tip from the suspect's family member that led law enforcement to the individual. The announcement comes just two days after Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was killed by a single gunshot to the neck while speaking at an outdoor debate event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah.

The shooting occurred around 12:20 p.m. local time on Wednesday, September 10, during Kirk's "American Comeback" tour, an event drawing about 3,000 attendees to the university's quad. Kirk was seated under a white gazebo, engaging in his signature "Prove Me Wrong" format—challenging audience questions on topics like transgender issues and mass shootings—when a lone gunman fired from the rooftop of the nearby Losee Center, approximately 430 feet away. Eyewitnesses described chaos as the crowd scattered, with one reporter recounting Kirk's body "fall[ing] over in slow motion" before people fled the scene.

Authorities quickly identified the incident as a targeted attack. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, labeled it a "political assassination" in a press conference, emphasizing the nation's rising tide of political violence. The event, part of Kirk's efforts to mobilize young conservatives, had only light security, with former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz noting on Fox News that Kirk was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

In a significant update, the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety released security footage and photos Thursday of a "person of interest"—a figure in dark clothing seen climbing stairwells to the rooftop, firing the shot, and fleeing across the roof before jumping into a wooded area. Investigators recovered the rifle believed to be the murder weapon in those woods. By late Thursday evening, around 10 p.m., 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested without incident after confessing to his father, who then alerted authorities and helped secure him until police arrived. Robinson, whose mugshot was released Friday, reportedly matched the description from surveillance videos and is being held as the primary suspect. Forensic evidence is still under analysis, but sources indicate a full confession, with the FBI's $100,000 reward now potentially claimable by the tipster.

Kirk, a close Trump ally who played a key role in the 2024 election by organizing youth outreach and staffing the administration, was hailed by the president as a "martyr for truth and freedom." In a video message from the Oval Office, Trump blamed the killing on rhetoric from the "radical left," accusing them of demonizing conservatives like Kirk by comparing them to "Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers." He urged supporters to remain nonviolent while promising "punitive measures" against political rivals inciting violence. Trump also ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff at federal buildings until September 14 in Kirk's honor. (ILKHA)