Authorities have announced that the suspect in the killing of prominent US conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be formally charged in a Utah court on Tuesday.
Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and founder of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, was shot dead last week during a speaking engagement at a Utah university campus.
According to investigators, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly fired a single bullet from a rifle, striking Kirk in the neck from a rooftop vantage point. Robinson was apprehended after a 33-hour manhunt.
Kirk, a father of two, built a massive following on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where he promoted conservative views and frequently criticised the transgender rights movement. A polarising figure, he was known for posting edited clips of his debates during numerous campus events.
FBI Director Kash Patel has faced intense criticism over his handling of the immediate aftermath of the shooting, particularly after initially announcing the arrest of a different suspect who was released just two hours later. Patel is scheduled to appear before a Senate panel on Tuesday, where he is expected to face tough questioning over the agency’s response to the killing, among other issues.
Appointed by Trump to lead the FBI, Patel has drawn fire from both the political right and left during his tenure.
Meanwhile, the White House said on Monday that it would pursue an alleged left-wing “domestic terror movement” in the wake of Kirk’s killing, sparking concerns among critics that the effort could be used to stifle political dissent.
