A person whom, on the grounds of facts or circumstances, is suspected of having committed a punishable act.
A 22-year-old suspect was arrested in the US shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday, bringing an end to a frantic manhunt. The suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson of Utah. Investigators are sifting through evidence and interviewing witnesses in the case. They say Robinson, a student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, was steeped in online culture. Inscriptions on two shell casings found near the scene of the murder appear to be references to online trolling humour.
Robinson’s arrest followed a tip from his family. A relative recognised him in surveillance images released after the shooting, and contacted a sheriff’s office in Washington County, authorities say. Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night after he turned himself in.
The sheriff’s office says it will “pursue the death penalty” if the suspect is found guilty of killing Kirk. A prosecutor says the suspect will be charged with capital murder, weapons and obstruction offenses at his initial court appearance.
The wife of the murdered activist, Erika Kirk, spoke publicly for the first time on Friday, saying she would keep Turning Point USA going after her husband’s death. She also urged people to vote in November’s midterm elections.