Cox said investigators discovered inscriptions engraved on bullet casings found with the rifle. One such inscription, on an unfired casing, read: “Hey fascist! Catch!” Cox said that inscription showed the gunman’s intent. “I think that speaks for itself,” the governor said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said it took 33 hours from the shooting for Robinson to be taken into custody. Patel said the FBI’s rapid push for public assistance generated more than 11,000 leads in two days.
The FBI on Thursday recovered what they believed was the high-powered rifle use to kill Kirk and released photos of the person of interest. On Thursday night, federal investigators then released a surveillance video as the manhunt for the gunman intensified.
Robert Bohls, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City office, has disclosed that the bolt-action rifle was found in a wooded area near the school in Orem, where the gunman fled after the attack. The weapon is being examined at the bureau’s laboratory, along with other evidence that includes footwear impressions and palm prints collected at the scene.
Trump first revealed the suspect had been caught in a Fox News appearance.
“I hope he was going to be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said. “What he did. Charlie Kirk was the finest person that he didn’t deserve this. He worked so hard and so well. Everybody liked him.”
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with Bill Montgomery. The nonprofit supports “identifying, organizing, and empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets, and limited government,” among high school and college students, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He played a pivotal role in energizing younger conservative voters to back Trump in his presidential bids. A self-described free speech advocate, Kirk enjoyed debating those with opposing views, and took staunchly conservative views on cultural issues such as race and gender, such as attacking critical race theory and criticizing same-sex marriage.
Kirk was at Utah Valley University for his group’s American Comeback Tour, and was addressing mass shootings when he was shot.
