WASHINGTON ‒ President Donald Trump said the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination has been detained, saying that with “a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody."

Trump made the announcement during a Sept. 12 morning appearance on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" following a two-day manhunt for the suspect who killed Kirk, a 31-year-old star conservative influencer and close Trump ally who was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

"Essentially, somebody that was very close to him turned him in," Trump said, later adding that the person who identified the suspect from images released by the FBI was a minister who was involved with law enforcement.

The suspect's name has not been released. Trump said the suspect's father helped turn the suspect into police.

"Everyone did a great job," Trump said. "We worked with the local police, the governor."

The president said he hopes the individual receives the death penalty.

“I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said. “What he did - Charlie Kirk was the finest person."

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump says suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting is in custody

Reporting by Joey Garrison, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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