A combination photo shows a person of interest in the fatal shooting of U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. shown in security footage released by the Utah Department of Public Safety on September 11, 2025. Utah Department of Public Safety/Handout via REUTERS
Candles are placed next to a picture of Charlie Kirk during a vigil under the line "In Memory of Charlie Kirk, for freedom, patriotism and justice" in front of the Embassy of the United States after U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University, Orem, U.S., in Berlin, Germany September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
A reported possible rooftop escape route of the shooter of U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
FBI Director Kash Patel walks with Utah Governor Spencer Cox following a press conference, on the day they visit the scene at the Utah Valley University, after U.S. right-wing activist and commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at the university, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
A person of interest in the fatal shooting of U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. is shown in security footage released by the Utah Department of Public Safety on September 11, 2025. Utah Department of Public Safety/Handout via REUTERS
A person of interest in the fatal shooting of U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. is shown in security footage released by the Utah Department of Public Safety on September 11, 2025. Utah Department of Public Safety/Handout via REUTERS

By Andrew Hay and Jarrett Renshaw

OREM, Utah (Reuters) - A young Utah man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university in the city of Orem was in custody on Friday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters.

"We got him," Cox told reporters.

The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, had confessed to a family friend - or "implied that he had committed the murder" to that friend - and that person in turn had contacted the Washington County sheriff's office on Thursday.

A family member interviewed by investigators said Robinson had become more political recently and spoke in a disparaging manner about Kirk, Cox told reporters.

Kirk's killer had eluded police and federal agents for about 33 hours after Wednesday's shooting, in which a sniper fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, during an appearance at Utah Valley University.

Previously, U.S. investigators said they had found the bolt-action rifle believed to have been used to kill Kirk and released images of a person of interest.

Kirk, an author, podcast host and close ally of Trump, helped build the Republican Party's support among younger voters.

Kirk was the co-founder and president of the conservative student group Turning Point USA and appeared at Utah Valley on Wednesday as part of a planned 15-event "American Comeback Tour" of U.S. college campuses. His killing stirred outrage and denunciations of political violence from Democrats, Republicans and foreign governments.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Orem, Jarret Renshaw in New York; Additional reporting by Sarah N Lynch and Jana Winter; Writing by Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Frank McGurty and Lincoln Feast)