President Donald Trump has said that the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is “with a high degree of certainty” in custody.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump claimed the arrest came after “someone very close” to the suspect turned them in. He did not reveal who that person was but said further updates would be provided later in the day.
“I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody,” Trump said. “I heard that five minutes before I walked in [to the studio]. The local authorities did a great job, everybody worked together. It all worked out.”
As of Friday morning, Utah authorities and the FBI have not formally confirmed an arrest. Officials previously said the investigation remained ongoing and that no suspect had been publicly identified.
The manhunt entered its third day earlier this week, with authorities releasing CCTV footage of the gunman fleeing across the roof of Utah Valley University’s Losee Center and later recovering a Mauser .30-06 rifle in nearby woodland. A $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, and more than 7,000 tips were submitted.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s comments indicate an official development or reflect preliminary briefings.