Washington [US], September 12 : FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday said his agency had made "historic progress" in the investigation concerning conservative activist Charlie Kirk, expressing visible relief during a news conference.
Speaking about the pace of the investigation, Patel said, "In less than 36 hours - 33 to be precise - thanks to the full weight of the federal government and leading out with the partners here in the state of Utah and Gov. Cox, the suspect was apprehended in a historic time period."
He further expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump, noting that the resources provided enabled the bureau "to bring justice at this speed."
In a moving tribute to his late friend, Patel addressed Kirk directly during the conference: "To my friend, Charlie Kirk: Rest now, brother. We have the watch. And I'll see you in Valhalla."
Trump also weighed in on the case, revealing that someone very close to Republican activist Charlie Kirk turned him in. In an interview with Fox & Friends on Fox News, Trump expressed his hope that the shooter receives the death penalty, linking the progress Patel reported to the broader pursuit of justice.
"I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody. Essentially, somebody that was very close to him turned him in," Trump told Fox News.
"I hope he gets the death penalty," he added.
Trump further said that Kirk was like a son to him.
"[Kirk] was like a son. He started this really during what would normally be college... and it's become a movement... I've never seen young people, or any group, go to one person like they did to Charlie," he said.
Trump further told Fox News that he spoke to Kirk's family members, who want to keep his nonprofit organization Turning Point USA going.
"I spoke to his wife yesterday, she's devastated. But in between the devastation, they want to keep Turning Point USA going... they think they can do it," he said.
Kirk and Turning Point USA were instrumental in securing Trump's 2024 return to the White House, including a major investment into get-out-the-vote operations in Arizona, a key battleground state that Trump flipped back from President Joe Biden, as per CNN.
Trump said that in Utah, they have a system of death penalty, which should be awarded to the shooter.
"In Utah, they have the death penalty... the Governor is very intent on the death penalty in this case, and he should be. In North Carolina, you also have it but we have to make sure that happens. That was a horrific crime," he said.
According to the US President, the father of the person taken into custody cooperated with investigators.
The president acknowledged he received only a short briefing prior to the interview, and said, "I'm always subject to correction, but I'm just giving you based on what I'm hearing."
Kirk was speaking at a debate at Utah Valley University when authorities say a shooter fired a single round from a rooftop, fatally striking him in the neck in an apparent targeted assassination.
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