DNA evidence links suspect to killing of Charlie Kirk, says FBI

DNA evidence found by investigators links the man accused of killing the rightwing political activist Charlie Kirk to the fatal attack, the FBI said yesterday, as the 22-year old suspect allegedly refused to cooperate with authorities after his arrest.

- Anna Betts

The announcement came as the Trump aide Stephen Miller vowed to “destroy” what he described as a “vast domestic terror movement” in conversation with JD Vance on yesterday's episode of the Charlie Kirk Show podcast, which was hosted by the vice-president.

Vance and Miller discussed “all of the ways that we're trying to figure out how to prevent this festering violence that you see on the far left”.

Vance, who last week accompanied the activist’s casket to Phoenix on Air Force Two, announced earlier yesterday that he would host the show, posting on X: “Please join me as I pay tribute to my friend.”

The FBI director, Kash Patel, said yesterday morning that DNA found on a towel wrapped around the rifle believed to have been used to kill Kirk matched that of the suspect in custody, 22-year-old Robinson.