During a news conference Friday in which he announced a suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination had been taken into custody, Gov. Spencer Cox pleaded with Utahns and Americans to choose discourse over violence and to maintain hope.

Police arrested a 22-year-old Washington County man, Tyler Robinson, in connection with the shooting on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.

In his closing remarks, Cox — known for his “Disagree Better” slogan — urged people to choose a route other than violence.

Here is a lightly edited transcript of his comments:

“This is a very sad day for, again, our country, a terrible day for the state of Utah. But I’m grateful that at this moment we have an opportunity to bring closure to this very dark chapter in our nation’s history.

“I think it’s important w

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