Trump: Kirk suspect in custody

President Donald Trump said Friday “with a high degree of certainty” that the suspect in the Charlie Kirk killing has been caught.

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. 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.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Images of the suspect: Federal investigators and state officials released a series of photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. They also released new and enhanced photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeve black shirt and a backpack.
• Clues from the scene: A Mauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle was found in a towel in the woods. 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. The weapon and ammunition were being analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab.
• Security gaps: The assassination offers the latest example of how ordinary security measures can be defeated in an era of escalating political violence, when anyone associated with the political process is a potential target. Security experts interviewed by AP questioned whether the event was sufficiently staffed but also acknowledged the limitations of both campus police forces and outdoor venues.