Photo of the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination case released by the FBI. FBI X

A suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who contributed to President Donald Trump's election victory last year.

Speaking on Fox News on the 12th (local time), President Trump said, "I have a high degree of certainty that we have him (the Kirk assassination suspect) in custody."

President Trump mentioned that clergy and the suspect's father were involved in assisting with the arrest, stating, "Someone very close to him reported him."

He added, "I hope he (the suspect) receives the death penalty."

President Trump also said he would attend Kirk's funeral next week, adding, "He wanted to help young people and he was not someone who deserved this. He was a really good person."

Authorities in Utah and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officially announced at a press conference that they had arrested the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler R. Robinson (a resident of Utah), the previous day.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox, whose state was the scene of the incident, explained that suspect Robinson confessed to the assassination of Kirk to an acquaintance, who then reported it to the local sheriff, leading to the apprehension.

Governor Cox stated that before the crime, Robinson had shown his political leanings more prominently than before and had expressed to his family that he opposed Kirk's views.

According to Governor Cox, Robinson was reportedly heard saying, "Kirk is full of hate and spreading hate."

Governor Cox also introduced that the shell casing found at the crime scene was inscribed with the phrases "hey fascist. catch" and "if you read this you are gay."

Additionally, the Italian song title "Bella ciao," popular among the political left, was also inscribed.

CNN reported, citing two sources, "The arrested man confessed to his father that he was the shooter," and "His father told authorities he would inform them and hold him until he could be apprehended."

Kirk, founder and president of the conservative organization Turning Point USA and a prominent pro-Trump figure among young Americans, was shot and killed on the afternoon of the 10th while engaging in a Q&A session with the audience at a forum hosted by the organization at Utah Valley University in Utah.

Police believe suspect Robinson used a high-powered firearm from the roof of a building approximately 180 meters away from the event venue to fire a single shot, killing Kirk.

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