A suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university has been taken into custody, US President Donald Trump says.<\/p>\n
Mr Kirk’s killer has eluded police and federal agents for more than 24 hours after Wednesday’s shooting, in which a sniper fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem.<\/p>\n
“I think we have him,” Trump told Fox News in an interview.<\/p>\n
“I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody.”<\/p>\n
The US president told the show “Fox and Friends” a family member and a local minister involved in law enforcement helped turn the suspect in, but cautioned his information was preliminary.<\/p>\n
Mr Trump did not share the suspect’s identity and told Fox News he didn’t know if the suspect was part of a bigger network.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement authorities are yet to publicly confirm a suspect is in custody.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a Utah Valley University event. (The Salt Lake Tribune: Trent Nelson via Reuters)<\/p>\n
A source familiar with the operation confirmed with Reuters that a suspect in the shooting was in the custody of Utah state law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Previously, US investigators said they had found a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle in a towel in the woods, which they believed had been used to kill Mr Kirk.<\/p>\n
A spent cartridge was recovered from the chamber, and three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
The weapon and ammunition are being analysed by law enforcement at a federal lab.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The FBI released two images of a “person of interest” and asked for information from the public. (X: FBI Salt Lake City)<\/p>\n
The FBI had also circulated grainy images apparently taken from security cameras showing a “person of interest” wearing a black top, black sunglasses and a dark baseball cap.<\/p>\n
The long-sleeved top appears to have been emblazoned with an image of a bald eagle flying across a US flag.<\/p>\n
More than 7,000 leads and tips have poured in, officials said.<\/p>\n
Authorities have yet to publicly name the suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.<\/p>\n
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