"I think we have the suspect," US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News today, referring to the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while he was speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
President Trump said the suspect was reported by "a very close person," adding that details would be released by authorities on 12/9.
"It was a pastor. This pastor reached out to a friend in law enforcement. This friend was close to a high-ranking federal police officer, and they got involved," he added.
The US president was unsure if the suspect was part of a network. He hopes the suspect will be convicted and receive the death penalty.
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President Donald Trump at the White House on 11/9. Photo: AFP |
President Donald Trump at the White House on 11/9. Photo: AFP
President Trump called the 31-year-old activist Kirk "a legend." Many White House staff have known Kirk for almost a decade, since Trump first ran for president in 2016. He contributed significantly to Trump's success in the 2024 campaign.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they recovered the rifle believed to be the murder weapon, while Utah state police released video of the suspect and identified him as college-aged. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator.
Earlier, at a 9/11 memorial event at the Pentagon, President Trump announced he would posthumously award Kirk the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award.
Nhu Tam (Reuters, AFP)
