After a manhunt lasting more than 24 hours, authorities have taken an individual into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event on Wednesday.
The person in custody is Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, five law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.
President Donald Trump initially broke the news during a segment on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning. “Can I always say ‘I think’ just to protect us all — and so Fox doesn’t get sued, we all don’t get sued and everything else — but I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody. Everyone did a great job,” he said.
From the beginning, authorities had a number of leads to go on. On Thursday morning, the FBI announced that law enforcement had recovered a high-powered bolt action rifle in a wooded area near campus. The spokesperson for the bureau also said it had video footage of the shooter, a shoe impression and imprints of a forearm and palm.
Kirk, 31, was shot from the rooftop of Utah Valley University’s Losee Center, a building near the quad where Kirk was speaking. The suspect then jumped off of the roof and fled.
Kirk had just been asked a question about gun violence by an audience member before he was shot in the neck and killed.
Trump expressed sympathy for Kirk and his family and said he will posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Kirk was known for his popular videos in which he debates students on college campuses on controversial issues like abortion, religion and LGBTQ issues. His account on Instagram has nearly 7 million followers.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com