Charlie Kirk murder suspect arrested after Trump ally gunned down at rally

A man has been arrested over the shooting of prominent right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump has revealed.

Father-of-two Kirk, 31, a Donald Trump ally and co-founder of youth organisation Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University debateon September 10 in what authorities described as a political assassination. The US President said officials have a "high degree of certainty" the person they have arrested is the shooter who killed Kirk.

Trump, on Fox News, said the suspect is aged 28 or 29, while local law enforcement officer have told US press the suspect is a 22-year-old Utah man.

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The President added that "someone very close" to the suspect - who he described as a "person of faith, a minister" - went to "the father". Trump then said the "father convinced the son" and went to a US Marshal.

Trump said that the suspect's dad told his son they've "got to go in", adding: "They drove into the police headquarters, and he's there now." Trump added that he didn't know if he was part of a greater network, while not revealing the person's identity.

Paying tribute to his friend Trump said Kirk was "like a son" to him adding that he hopes the killer gets the death penalty. The Commander-in-chief added: "Things may change, but facts are the facts, we have who we're looking for."

Police arrested two people in the aftermath, but both were later released without charge after they were found to have no connection to the shooting. Kirk was speaking at a debate organised by his group, and was taking questions from an audience member about gun violence when he was shot in the neck.

Kirk had been peaking into a handheld microphone before a single fatal shot was fired, striking him in the neck. Stunned spectators were heard gasping and screaming, before the crowd of 3,000 people gathered in the university courtyard scrambled for safety.

The FBI released a series of videos of suspect who appeared to be on the roof of the Losee Center Building, around 180metres away from where Kirk was sitting in a pop-up tent - emblazoned with the slogans: "The American Comeback" and "Prove Me Wrong".

Officials released details about their suspected gunman saying they appeared "to be of college age" and "blended in" to the roughly 3,000 large university crowd who went to see Kirk's debate.

Authorities appeared stumped as to who the shooter was, stating they had "no idea" if the assassin was in Utah or had fled to another state a day after the killing. A huge manhunt was launched as cops threw a $100,000 bounty out for the shooter.

Days after the shooting, authorities were not able to name a suspect or share possible motives behind the assassination. Utah's public safety commissioner however did say the gunman was of "college age" and had "blended in" with other students.

A day after the shooting the FBI released an CCTV images of a "person of interest" wanted in connection with Charlie Kirk's killing. The suspect was seen wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt with an American flag on the front, blue trousers, Converse-style shoes, a cap and sunglasses. Another image showed them wearing a large backpack filled to the brim.

Authorities also said they discovered a high-calibre rifle believed to have been used in the fatal shooting in a wooded area on the university campus. Officials added that there were engravings on the weapon and said they could hint to the killer's motives.

Hours after conservative activist died, Donald Trump recorded a video from the White House in which he called Kirk a "martyr for truth and freedom" and blamed the rhetoric of the "radical left" for the killing.

Speaking from behind the Resolute Desk, the US president said: "Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie is a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America."

The President later said he planned to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian honour in the US.

On Thursday, Kirk's casket arrived in his home state of Arizona when it was flown from Salt Lake City on Air Force Two. His widow was seen for the first time following his death, as she stepped off the plane with her arm around JD Vance's wife, Usha, as the Vice President followed.

Both women worse black and covered their eyes with sunglasses as Kirk's wife, Erika, appeared visibly upset. JD Vance had escorted the slain firebrand's body onto Air Force Two and silently placed his hand on the casket as they walked across the airport tarmac.

Vance described himself as Kirk's friend, and in a statement, said: "A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today."

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