By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
Following a search for the alleged killer of political commentator Charlie Kirk, law enforcement officers have taken a suspect into custody.
First announced Friday morning by President Donald Trump on ‘Fox and Friends’, the president asserted,” With a high degree of certainty, we have him.” He added,’ “Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him.'”
In a news conference held by law enforcement and Utah officials, they confirmed that the suspect in custody is a 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a resident of Utah. Robinson has been booked into the Utah County jail.
“We got him,” said Gov. Spencer Cox, opening the conference. Cox explained that Robinson had been turned in by his family and taken into Custody in Washington County on Sept. 11 at approximately 10 p.m. Cox shared that family members of Robinson said that he had become more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs. “I want to thank the public who has been so engaged with reviewing videos, sending us tips and helping us get to this point.”
“This is a very sad day for our country, a terrible day for the state of Utah, but I’m grateful that at this moment we have the opportunity to bring closure to this very dark chapter in our nation’s history,” stated Cox.
Engraved on the bullet casings were phrases such as, ‘hey fascist catch’, ‘Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao’, and ‘if you read this you are gay. LMAO’.
Taking the podium, FBI Director Kash Patel stated,” This is what happens when you let good cops be cops … In 33 hours we have made historic progress for Charlie”
“We are so grateful for your state partnership that led out in this investigation,” said Patel to Cox. “The arrest is a testament to the dedication of good law enforcement being great … There is no better relationship than law enforcement than the FBI when partnered with state and local law authorities, and you’ve seen it here in the last few days.”
Speaking as to why this incident has received so many resources, Cox said, “It is much bigger than an attack on an individual, it’s an attack on all of us, it is an attack on the American experiment, it is an attack on our ideals.” Cox also urged the youth to “choose a different path.”
The governor also shared that Robinson is believed to have acted alone, but that the investigation is ongoing.
Over the course of the investigation, the FBI received over 11,000 tips from the public on the potential identity of the shooter.
Cox estimated that charging documents would be prepared over the next three days.
Kirk was shot and killed during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
This story is breaking and may be updated.