The President of the United States, Donald Trump, declared on Friday that the suspect in the case of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been apprehended.
„I believe, with a high degree of certainty, that we have him in custody,” Trump said, as quoted by Fox News.
The American head of state added that the individual was reported by "someone very close to her" and that the official announcement is expected to be made during the day on Friday.
Subsequently, the American press revealed that the suspect had been turned in to the police by his own father, to whom he had confessed the deed.
The Governor's Office in Utah stated that at 9:00 local time (16:00 Romanian time), a joint press conference of state and federal authorities regarding the investigation will take place. Among the participants are Governor Spencer J. Cox, FBI Director Kash Patel, Utah Department of Public Safety Director Beau Mason, and FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls.
The Suspect, Caught on Camera After the Attack
American authorities conducted an extensive search operation after releasing images allegedly showing the attacker fleeing on a rooftop immediately after the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Sources cited by CNN state that the man now in police custody confessed to his father that he is the perpetrator of the attack. The father immediately informed the authorities and managed to keep his son under control until he was officially detained.
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Next Steps: Building the Case
Chris Swecker, former FBI Assistant Director, explained that the authorities will now proceed with building the criminal case.
"He will be interrogated, must be properly informed of his rights. The investigation will focus on matching biological evidence and obtaining a warrant for arrest and likely charges, most likely for state-level homicide," he stated on CNN. Swecker emphasized that searches at the suspect's residence and analysis of his electronic devices for evidence collection are forthcoming.
Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist and a well-known figure in the right-wing movement in the USA, was fatally shot three days ago, triggering a strong reaction in the American public sphere.
Immediately after Kirk's death, Donald Trump accused the "radical left," but federal investigators have not put forward any official hypotheses. Many speculate that Kirk's political views may have been a triggering factor, but this is not confirmed.
Officials from the Trump administration have pledged a strong stance against those who celebrated the attack on social media.
G.P.