President Trump says 'I think we have him' in major update on search for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

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By James Kay

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Donald Trump has revealed that authorities believe they have Charlie Kirk's assassin in custody.

Speaking to Fox and Friends, the President said: "I think we have him. I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody. He's in custody."

Trump also said that "someone that was very close to him turned him in," adding a "minister, father" helped in his capture.

"I hope he's gonna be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty for what he did," Trump said.

He added: "Things may change, but facts are the facts, we have who we're looking for."

Screenshot 2025-09-11 at 17.05.18.png This person was declared a "person of interest". Credit: Utah's department of public safety

"We worked with the local police, the governor - everybody did a great job," Trump told Fox News.

"You know, getting somebody that you start off with absolutely nothing - and we started off with a clip that made him look like an ant - that was almost useless.

"We just saw somebody up there. And so much work has been done over the last two and a half days.

"You know, it's amazing really, when you start off with that and then all of a sudden you get lucky, or talent, or whatever it is."

In the same interview, Trump revealed that Kirk was "like a son" to him, calling him "a brilliant guy" who "helped me with TikTok".

The President clarified that he did not watch the footage of Kirk being shot, but had heard that it was a horrific video.

He stated that he did not want to remember Kirk in that way.

GettyImages-1546547259.jpg Charlie Kirk was killed at a university event. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty

The weapon suspected of killing Charlie Kirk was found

In a video of the alleged shooter, the suspect could be seen running over a road and entering a wooded area, where police claim that a ‘high-powered rifle’ was found. 

The FBI confirmed in a press conference yesterday (September 11) that the recovered weapon is believed to be the murder weapon. 


After releasing a photo earlier showing the suspect wearing glasses, a hat, and a black t-shirt, this latest video shows what appears to be the same person. 

After firing a single shot from distance and killing Kirk, the person - who appears to be a male of ‘college age’ - fled the scene and into the local neighborhood. 

Further information on the alleged shooter has not yet been released.

Featured image credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty