Trump: Suspect in Charlie Kirk Killing In Custody 'with a High Degree of Certainty'

According to sources, a 22-year-old Utah man was apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk after the suspect allegedly confessed to his father, who alerted authorities.

Sept. 12, 2025

3 min read

What to know

In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump said a suspect is in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah.
According to sources, a 22-year-old man was apprehended after the suspect confessed to his father, who alerted authorities.
Two people initially detained were later released after officials determined they were not involved.

By Jessica Schladebeck

Source New York Daily News

President Donald Trump on Friday said a suspect has been arrested connection with the fatal shooting Charlie Kirk, his own close personal ally and the co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.

“I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News. “I think we’re in great shape. He’s in custody.”

Authorities have identified the alleged gunman as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, the Associated Press reported, citing a source, who spoke on the condition anonymity.

“But you know, the facts are the facts. We have the person that we think is the person we’re looking for. But they drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now,” Trump said. He added that “somebody that was very close to him turned him in.”

CNN, also citing sources, said the man in custody confessed to his father, who in turn alerted authorities and detained his son until their arrival.

The FBI released security camera images identifying a person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon during a student Q&A at Utah Valley University as part of his American Comeback Tour. He was hit in the neck by a lone bullet during the outdoor event on the Orem campus and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. He was 31 years old.

Video of the shooting posted on social media shows Kirk seated under a white tent, addressing a question about mass shootings, when the sound of a single gunshot rings out. Blood can then be seen pouring from Kirk’s neck before he topples from his chair and falls to the floor. He was 31 years old.

Investigators say the shooter fired from several hundred feet away, likely from on top of a building, and then escaped in the ensuing chaos. On Thursday, the FBI released photos of a “person of interest,” showing a person appearing to be a young white male in a stairwell. He wore a hat, sunglasses and a long sleeve black shirt with an eagle and American flag on the front.

They also released video footage showing a person jumping off the rooftop from where Kirk was shot and then fleeing through a nearby neighborhood.

In wake of the violence, officials arrested and released two people after concluding they were not involved in the violence.

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